In general, it's a good idea to buy long-term care insurance before you're 60, for two reasons:

There are various questions and issues to keep in mind when choosing a long-term care policy.

Medicaid is a state-government-administered program that pays the medical and long-term care expenses of poor people. If you have more money than your state permits when you need long-term care services, your state's Medicaid won't pay for those services. You'll have to spend your own money-including using up your assets-until you become poor enough to qualify.

If you're under 55, you might think that, since the likelihood of long-term care outlays is many years in the future, you could invest the money you might otherwise spend for long-term care insurance premiums. That way, if you do need long-term care, you could just draw upon that investment, and if not, you'd have money for your heirs, for a charitable donation, or for your own needs.