Several types of long-term care insurance are available, but they work on the same principle as regular insurance: You pay an annual premium, and the insurance company reimburses you for a specified amount of long-term care costs, should one or both spouses end up needing and qualifying for care under the policy's terms.

Some long-term care policies are "tax qualified." This means the policy meets certain federal regulations, and therefore some of the premium amounts may be tax deductible (as an itemized medical expense, depending on income). The benefits collected would be tax-free.

In several states -- California, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, and New York -- there's also what's called "state partnership" long-term care insurance. These are the same as other policies, except they provide an extra benefit that might allow you to more easily qualify for Medicaid coverage of long-term care. To qualify for Medicaid coverage, you must have very limited income and assets. With a state partnership long-term care insurance policy, you're allowed to keep more assets and still qualify for Medicaid coverage.

Long-term care insurance policies will pay benefits either on a per diem basis (a fixed benefit no matter what your costs) or on an indemnity basis (a portion of your actual expenses are reimbursed). Some policies pay only for a certified home care agency or licensed nursing facility, while others pay the policy holder directly, to use any way you sees fit.