Continental General Insurance Company Long Term Care Reviews: What to Know

Long term care insurance can provide important financial protection for aging adults. But it’s crucial to choose the right company and policy to meet your needs. Continental General Insurance Company is one of the largest long term care insurance providers in the United States. This article provides an in-depth look at Continental General long term care insurance, including customer reviews, common complaints, and whether it’s the right choice for you.

Overview of Continental General Insurance Company

Continental General Insurance Company (CGIC) is headquartered in Austin, Texas and has been selling long term care insurance for over 30 years. The company provides individual long term care insurance policies as well as group plans through employers.

Some key facts about Continental General Insurance Company:

• Offers a range of long term care insurance policy options including comprehensive plans with home care, assisted living, and nursing home coverage.

• Sells long term care insurance directly to consumers as well as through independent agents and brokers.

• Has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is not BBB accredited.

• Had over $28 million in revenue in 2021, making it one of the larger long term care insurance providers.

• Claims to have paid out over $1 billion in long term care benefits to policyholders.

• Policyholders have filed complaints regarding claims denials, premium increases, and poor customer service.

Continental General Long Term Care Insurance Policies

Continental General offers several long term care insurance policy options. Here are some of the key features to understand:

• Benefit Amounts: Policies provide a daily or monthly limit for covered long term care services. Benefit amounts range from $100 to $400 per day.

• Benefit Duration: Duration options include 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, or lifetime long term care benefits. Longer durations have higher premiums.

• Covered Services: Comprehensive policies cover care in a nursing facility, assisted living, and at-home long term care. Some policies have more limited benefits.

• Inflation Protection: Optional riders allow benefits to increase to help keep pace with rising long term care costs.

• Elimination Periods: You pay out-of-pocket for a certain number of days before benefits start. Typical options are 30, 60, or 90 days.

• Couples Discounts: Spouses can apply together and receive discounted premiums.

When shopping Continental General long term care insurance, carefully review the policy details to understand exactly what is covered and what limitations may apply.

Continental General Long Term Care Reviews from Customers

Continental General currently has an average 1 out of 5 star rating based on 6 customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. The company has received frequent complaints relating to denied claims, increased premiums, and poor customer service.

Here are examples of recent Continental General Insurance reviews and complaints from the BBB website:

• “This is the WORST insurance company ever. Do not buy long term care with them.” – One star review complaining the company denied a valid long term care claim after decades of premium payments.

• “They keep adding things that they say they have never received that they havent even asked for.” – Complaint stating the claims process involved excessive paperwork and repeated requests for information.

• “We are unable to afford care this is after paying for long term care for years.” – Complaint about the company cancelling coverage and failing to pay for long term care services.

• “It was ABSOLUTELY rediculous. My sister and I both work fulltime and had to take a ton of time off work to do this.” – Complaint about spending hours providing detailed care logs and records, only to have the claim denied.

The majority of complaints relate to denied claims, even after many years of paying premiums. Others report difficulty getting answers from customer service and a tedious claims process. These negative reviews suggest Continental General long term care insurance may not deliver the coverage purchasers expect.

However, it’s important to note that people are more likely to post reviews when they have had a negative experience. Some Continental General policyholders may be satisfied with their coverage. But the overwhelming majority of public reviews are negative.

Common Complaints and Problems with Continental General Insurance

In addition to the customer reviews, Continental General Insurance Company has received 11 official complaints to the BBB in the past 3 years. The most common issues cited in the complaints include:

• Claims Denied for Long-Time Customers: Multiple complaints allege claims were denied or benefits reduced after paying premiums for many years. This violates policyholders’ expectations.

• Premium Increases: Some customers report substantial premium hikes that were not clearly disclosed when they purchased the policies.

• Lack of Communication: Many complaints involve difficulty contacting the company by phone or email and failure to respond to inquiries.

• Tedious Claims Process: Customers describe a difficult process providing extensive records and care logs, only to have claims denied.

• Poor Customer Service: Complaints cite unhelpful staff and inability to speak to supervisors when problems arise.

Considering these common issues, Continental General appears to have a history of problematic claims handling, reduced benefits, increased costs, and poor service according to many policyholders.

What to Look for in Long Term Care Insurance Reviews

When evaluating any long term care insurance company, the two most important factors to research are:

1. Claims payment history – Do policyholders report smooth claims processing and payment of expected benefits? Denied claims after years of premiums cause the most dissatisfaction.

2. Premium increase history – How often and by how much has the company increased premiums? Huge hikes can make policies unaffordable.

Also consider:

• Customer service responsiveness if issues arise
• Transparency and clarity in policy terms
• Prompt processing and approval of eligible claims
• Reasonable requirements for providing records and documentation

For Continental General specifically, the available reviews highlight problems in most of these important areas.

Are Complaints Common Among Long Term Care Insurers?

It’s reasonable to ask – are complaints and problems with claims handling systemic issues across the long term care insurance industry?

The answer seems to be no. While all insurers receive some complaints, top-rated companies demonstrate a commitment to paying legitimate claims and maintaining stable premiums.

For example, Northwestern Mutual has an A+ rating with BBB based on 362 customer reviews averaging 4.5 stars. The company has just a handful of complaints over the past 3 years.

Mutual of Omaha also maintains an A+ BBB rating with few complaints. And industry leader Genworth Financial has an A rating with BBB.

Meanwhile, Continental General’s BBB rating is lowered to A+ primarily due to a high complaint volume. Their negative reviews far outweigh positives.

So quality long term care insurers are able to operate with a high level of customer satisfaction. But Continental General’s lengthy history of policyholder complaints sets them apart from reputable companies.

Is Continental General Insurance Recommended?

Based on a pattern of denied claims, increased premiums, and poor service, Continental General seems to have fundamental issues with ethics and dependability.

The company makes big promises upfront but fails to deliver the actual coverage purchasers expect to receive. Their business model appears to involve collecting as much in premiums as possible before denying claims down the road.

Continental General long term care insurance is not recommended for most consumers based on these troubling reviews and complaints. They violate the very purpose of insurance, which is providing protection when you need it most.

There are higher-rated insurers like Northwestern Mutual and Mutual of Omaha that demonstrate a commitment to paying claims while maintaining reasonable premiums over decades.

Of course, every insurance company receives some complaints. But Continental General’s problems are excessive based on the available reviews. For long term care insurance you can truly rely on, other reputable providers are preferable.

Tips for Purchasing Long Term Care Insurance

If you’re considering long term care insurance, be sure to:

• Thoroughly research the insurer’s reputation and complaint history. Check BBB ratings and online reviews.

• Understand the policy terms including benefits, limitations, exclusions, premium increases, etc. Don’t assume protections that aren’t guaranteed.

• Work with an independent insurance agent who can objectively compare multiple providers.

• Consider your budget today and in the future. Can you afford potential premium hikes down the road?

• Seek policies with inflation protection and lifetime benefits to enhance value.

• Apply with spouses for partnership discounts on premiums.

• Be proactive reaching out to the insurer when claims need to be filed. Document every step and follow up persistently.

The best time to buy long term care insurance is in your 50’s and 60’s while still in good health. Take time to make the right choice, as you may be relying on this policy for protection later in retirement. Do your due diligence to find an ethical company that pays claims reliably over the long-term.

Conclusion: Proceed Cautiously with Continental General