I.R.C. § 7702B(a) In General —
For purposes of this title—
I.R.C. § 7702B(a)(1) —
a qualified long-term care insurance contract shall be treated as an accident and
health insurance contract,
I.R.C. § 7702B(a)(2) —
amounts (other than policyholder dividends, as defined in section 808, or premium refunds) received under a qualified long-term care insurance contract
shall be treated as amounts received for personal injuries and sickness and shall
be treated as reimbursement for expenses actually incurred for medical care (as defined
in section 213(d)),
I.R.C. § 7702B(a)(3) —
any plan of an employer providing coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance
contract shall be treated as an accident and health plan with respect to such coverage,
I.R.C. § 7702B(a)(4) —
except as provided in subsection (e)(3), amounts paid for a qualified long-term care insurance contract providing the benefits
described in subsection (b)(2)(A) shall be treated as payments made for insurance for purposes of section 213(d)(1)(D), and
I.R.C. § 7702B(a)(5) —
a qualified long-term care insurance contract shall be treated as a guaranteed renewable
contract subject to the rules of section 816(e).
I.R.C. § 7702B(b) Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Contract —
For purposes of this title—
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1) In General —
The term “qualified long-term care insurance contract” means any insurance
contract if—
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(A) —
the only insurance protection provided under such contract is coverage of qualified
long-term care services,
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(B) —
such contract does not pay or reimburse expenses incurred for services or items
to the extent that such expenses are reimbursable under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act or would be so reimbursable but for the application of a deductible
or coinsurance amount,
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(C) —
such contract is guaranteed renewable,
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(D) —
such contract does not provide for a cash surrender value or other money that can
be—
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(D)(i) —
paid, assigned, or pledged as collateral for a loan, or
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(D)(ii) —
borrowed, other than as provided in subparagraph (E) or paragraph (2)(C),
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(E) —
all refunds of premiums, and all policyholder dividends or similar amounts, under
such contract are to be applied as a reduction in future premiums or to increase
future benefits, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(1)(F) —
such contract meets the requirements of subsection (g).
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2) Special Rules
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2)(A) Per Diem, Etc. Payments Permitted —
A contract shall not fail to be described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) by reason of payments being made on a per diem or other periodic basis without regard
to the expenses incurred during the period to which the payments relate.
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2)(B) Special Rules Relating To Medicare
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2)(B)(i) —
Paragraph (1)(B) shall not apply to expenses which are reimbursable under title XVIII of the Social
Security Act only as a secondary payor.
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2)(B)(ii) —
No provision of law shall be construed or applied so as to prohibit the offering
of a qualified long-term care insurance contract on the basis that the contract coordinates
its benefits with those provided under such title.
I.R.C. § 7702B(b)(2)(C) Refunds Of Premiums —
Paragraph (1)(E) shall not apply to any refund on the death of the insured, or on a complete surrender
or cancellation of the contract, which cannot exceed the aggregate premiums paid
under the contract. Any refund on a complete
surrender or cancellation of the contract shall be includible in gross income to
the extent that any deduction or exclusion was allowable with respect to the premiums.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c) Qualified Long-Term Care Services —
For purposes of this section—
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(1) In General —
The term “qualified long-term care services”
means necessary diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, curing, treating, mitigating,
and rehabilitative services, and maintenance or personal care services, which—
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(1)(A) —
are required by a chronically ill individual, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(1)(B) —
are provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2) Chronically Ill Individual
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(A) In General —
The term “chronically ill individual” means any individual who has been
certified by a licensed health care practitioner as—
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(A)(i) —
being unable to perform (without substantial assistance from another individual)
at least 2 activities of daily living for a period of at least 90 days due to a loss
of functional capacity,
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(A)(ii) —
having a level of disability similar
(as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary in consultation with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services) to the level of disability described
in clause (i), or
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(A)(iii) —
requiring substantial supervision to protect such individual from threats to health
and safety due to severe cognitive impairment.
Such term shall not include any
individual otherwise meeting the requirements of the preceding sentence
unless within the preceding 12-month period a licensed health care
practitioner has certified that such individual meets such requirements.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B) Activities Of Daily Living —
For purposes of subparagraph (A), each of the following is an activity of daily living:
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(i) —
Eating.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(ii) —
Toileting.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(iii) —
Transferring.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(iv) —
Bathing.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(v) —
Dressing.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(2)(B)(vi) —
Continence.
A contract shall not be treated as a qualified long-term care insurance contract
unless the determination of whether an individual is a chronically ill individual
described in subparagraph (A)(i) takes into account at least 5 of such activities.
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(3) Maintenance Or Personal Care Services —
The term “maintenance or personal care services”
means any care the primary purpose of which is the provision of needed assistance
with any of the disabilities as a result of which the individual is a chronically
ill individual (including the protection from threats to health and safety due to
severe cognitive impairment).
I.R.C. § 7702B(c)(4) Licensed Health Care Practitioner —
The term “licensed health care practitioner”
means any physician (as defined in section 1861(r)(1) of the Social Security Act)
and any registered professional nurse, licensed social worker, or other individual
who meets such requirements as may be prescribed by the Secretary.
I.R.C. § 7702B(d) Aggregate Payments In Excess Of Limits
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(1) In General —
If the aggregate of—
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(1)(A) —
the periodic payments received for any period under all qualified long-term care
insurance contracts which are treated as made for qualified long-term care services
for an insured, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(1)(B) —
the periodic payments received for such period which are treated under section 101(g) as paid by reason of the death of such insured,
exceeds the per diem limitation for
such period, such excess shall be includible in gross income without
regard to section 72. A payment shall not be taken into account under subparagraph (B) if the insured is a terminally ill individual (as defined in section 101(g)) at the time the payment is received.
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(2) Per Diem Limitation —
For purposes of paragraph (1), the per diem limitation for any period is an amount equal to the excess (if any)
of—
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(2)(A) —
the greater of—
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(2)(A)(i) —
the dollar amount in effect for such period under paragraph (4),
or
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(2)(A)(ii) —
the costs incurred for qualified long-term care services provided for the insured
for such period, over
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(2)(B) —
the aggregate payments received as reimbursements (through insurance or otherwise)
for qualified long-term care services provided for the insured during such period.
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(3) Aggregation Rules —
For purposes of this subsection—
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(3)(A) —
all persons receiving periodic payments described in paragraph (1) with
respect to the same insured shall be treated as 1 person, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(3)(B) —
the per diem limitation determined under paragraph (2) shall be allocated first to the insured and any remaining limitation shall be allocated
among the other such persons in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe.
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(4) Dollar Amount —
The dollar amount in effect under this subsection shall be $175 per day (or the
equivalent amount in the case of payments on another periodic basis).
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(5) Inflation Adjustment —
In the case of a calendar year after 1997, the dollar amount contained in paragraph
(4) shall be increased at the same time and in the same manner as amounts are increased
pursuant to section 213(d)(10).
I.R.C. § 7702B(d)(6) Periodic Payments —
For purposes of this subsection, the term “periodic payment” means any
payment (whether on a periodic basis or otherwise) made without regard to the extent
of the costs incurred by the payee for qualified long-term care services.
I.R.C. § 7702B(e) Treatment Of Coverage Provided As Part Of A Life Insurance Or Annuity Contract —
Except as otherwise provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in the
case of any long-term care insurance coverage (whether or not qualified) provided
by a rider on or as part of a life insurance contract or an annuity contract—
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(1) In General —
This title shall apply as if the portion of the contract providing such coverage
is a separate contract.
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(2) Denial Of Deduction Under Section 213 —
No deduction shall be allowed
under section 213(a) for
any payment made for coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance
contract if such payment is made as a charge against the cash surrender
value of a life insurance contract or the cash value of an annuity
contract.
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(3) Portion Defined —
For purposes of this subsection, the term “portion” means only the terms
and benefits under a life insurance contract or annuity contract that are in addition
to the terms and benefits under the contract without regard to long-term care insurance
coverage.
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4) Annuity Contracts To Which Paragraph (1) Does Not Apply —
For purposes of this subsection, none of the following shall be treated as an annuity
contract:
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B) —
A contract—
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B)(i) —
purchased by a trust described in subparagraph (A),
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B)(ii) —
purchased as part of a plan described in section 403(a),
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B)(iii) —
described in section 403(b),
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B)(iv) —
provided for employees of a life insurance company under a plan described in section
818(a)(3), or
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(4)(B)(v) —
from an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity.
I.R.C. § 7702B(e)(C) —
A contract purchased by an employer for the benefit of the employee (or the employee's
spouse).
Any dividend described in section
404(k) which is received by a participant or beneficiary shall, for purposes of this paragraph,
be treated as paid under a separate contract
to which subparagraph (B)(i)
applies.
I.R.C. § 7702B(f) Treatment Of Certain State-Maintained Plans
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(1) In General —
If—
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(1)(A) —
an individual receives coverage for qualified long-term care services under a State
long-term care plan, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(1)(B) —
the terms of such plan would satisfy the requirements of subsection (b) were
such plan an insurance contract, such plan shall be treated as a qualified long-term
care insurance contract for purposes of this
title.
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2) State Long-Term Care Plan —
For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “State long-term care plan” means any plan—
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2)(A) —
which is established and maintained by a State or an instrumentality of a State,
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2)(B) —
which provides coverage only for qualified long-term care services, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2)(C) —
under which such coverage is provided only to—
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2)(C)(i) —
employees and former employees of a State (or any political subdivision or instrumentality
of a State),
I.R.C. § 7702B(f)(2)(C)(ii) —
the spouses of such employees, and
I.R.C. § 7702B(g) Consumer Protection Provisions
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(1) In General —
The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to any contract if the
contract meets—
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(1)(A) —
the requirements of the model regulation and model Act described in paragraph (2),
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(1)(B) —
the disclosure requirement of paragraph (3), and
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(1)(C) —
the requirements relating to nonforfeitability under paragraph (4).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2) Requirements Of Model Regulation And Act
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A) In General —
The requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to any contract if such
contract meets—
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i) Model Regulation —
The following requirements of the model regulation:
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(I) —
Section 7A (relating to guaranteed renewal or noncancellability), and the requirements
of section 6B of the model Act relating to such section 7A.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(II) —
Section 7B (relating to prohibitions on limitations and exclusions).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(III) —
Section 7C (relating to extension of benefits).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(IV) —
Section 7D (relating to continuation or conversion of coverage).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(V) —
Section 7E (relating to discontinuance and replacement of policies).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(VI) —
Section 8 (relating to unintentional lapse).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(VII) —
Section 9 (relating to disclosure), other than section 9F thereof.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(VIII) —
Section 10 (relating to prohibitions against post-claims underwriting).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(IX) —
Section 11 (relating to minimum standards).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(X) —
Section 12 (relating to requirement to offer inflation protection), except that
any requirement for a signature on a rejection of inflation protection shall permit
the signature to be on an application or on a separate form.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(i)(XI) —
Section 23 (relating to prohibition against preexisting conditions and probationary
periods in replacement policies or certificates).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(ii) Model Act —
The following requirements of the model Act:
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(ii)(I) —
Section 6C (relating to preexisting conditions).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(A)(ii)(II) —
Section 6D (relating to prior hospitalization).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(B) Definitions —
For purposes of this paragraph—
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(B)(i) Model Provisions —
The terms “model regulation” and “model Act” mean the long-term
care insurance model regulation, and the long-term care insurance model Act, respectively,
promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (as adopted as
of January 1993).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(B)(ii) Coordination —
Any provision of the model regulation or model Act listed under clause (i) or
(ii) of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as including any other provision of such regulation or Act necessary
to implement the provision.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(2)(B)(iii) Determination —
For purposes of this section and section 4980C, the determination of whether
any requirement of a model regulation or the model Act has been met shall be made
by the Secretary.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(3) Disclosure Requirement —
The requirement of this paragraph is met with respect to any contract if such contract
meets the requirements of section 4980C(d).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4) Nonforfeiture Requirements
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(A) In General —
The requirements of this paragraph are met with respect to any level premium contract,
if the issuer of such contract offers to the policyholder, including any group policyholder,
a nonforfeiture provision meeting the requirements of subparagraph (B).
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B) Requirements Of Provision —
The nonforfeiture provision required under subparagraph (A) shall meet the
following requirements:
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(i) —
The nonforfeiture provision shall be appropriately captioned.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(ii) —
The nonforfeiture provision shall provide for a benefit available in the event of
a default in the payment of any premiums and the amount of the benefit may be adjusted
subsequent to being initially granted only as necessary to reflect changes in claims,
persistency, and interest as reflected in changes in rates for premium paying contracts
approved by the appropriate
State regulatory agency for the same contract form.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(iii) —
The nonforfeiture provision shall provide at least one of the following:
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(iii)(I) —
Reduced paid-up insurance.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(iii)(II) —
Extended term insurance.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(iii)(III) —
Shortened benefit period.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(4)(B)(iii)(IV) —
Other similar offerings approved by the appropriate State regulatory agency.
I.R.C. § 7702B(g)(5) Cross Reference —
For coordination of the requirements of this subsection with State requirements,
see section 4980C(f).
(Added by Pub. L. 104-191, title III, Sec. 321(f), 325, Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1936; amended Pub. L. 105-34, title XVI, Sec.
1602, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat 788; Pub. L. 105-206, title VI, Sec. 6023(28), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat 685; Pub. L. 108-311, title II, Sec. 207(25), Oct. 4, 2004, 118 Stat. 1166; Pub. L. 109-280, title VIII, Sec.
844, Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 780.)
BACKGROUND NOTES
AMENDMENTS
2006 - Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109-280, Sec. 844(c), amended subsec. (e). Before amendment, it read as follows:
“(e) Treatment of coverage provided as part of a life insurance contract
“Except as otherwise provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in
the case of any long-term care insurance coverage (whether or not qualified) provided
by a rider on or as part of a life insurance contract--
“(1) In general
“This title shall apply as if the portion of the contract providing such coverage
is a separate contract.
“(2) Application of section 7702
“Section 7702(c)(2) (relating to the guideline premium limitation) shall be
applied by increasing the guideline premium limitation with respect to a life insurance
contract, as of any date--
“(A) by the sum of any charges (but not premium payments) against the life insurance
contract's cash surrender value
(within the meaning of section 7702(f)(2)(A)) for such coverage made to that date
under the contract, less
“(B) any such charges the imposition of which reduces the premiums paid for
the contract (within the meaning of section 7702(f)(1)).
“(3) Application of section 213
“No deduction shall be allowed under section 213(a) for charges against the
life insurance contract's cash surrender value described in paragraph (2), unless
such charges are includible in income as a result of the application of section 72(e)(10)
and the rider is a qualified long-term care insurance contract under subsection
(b).
“(4) Portion defined
“For purposes of this subsection, the term
‘portion’ means only the terms and benefits under a life insurance contract
that are in addition to the terms and benefits under the contract without regard to
long-term care insurance coverage.”
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 109-280, Sec. 844(f), amended par. (1), as in effect before amendment by Pub. L. 109-280, Sec. 844(c), by substituting “title” for “section”.
2004 - Subsec. (f)(2)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 108-311, Sec. 207(25), amended clause (iii) by substituting “subparagraphs (A) through
(G) of section 152(d)(2)” for “paragraphs (1) through
(8) of section 152(a)”.
1998 - Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 105-206, Sec. 6023(28) inserted “section”
after “Application of” in the heading of subsec. (e)(2).
1997 - Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105-34, Sec. 1602(b), inserted “described in subparagraph (A)(i)” after “chronically
ill individual” in the last sentence.
Subsec. (g)(4)(B). Pub. L. 105-34, Sec. 1602(e), substituted “appropriate State regulatory agency” for “Secretary”
in clauses (ii) and (iii).
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2006 AMENDMENTS
Amendment by Sec. 844(c) of Pub. L. 109-280 effective for contracts issued after December 31, 1996, but only with respect to
taxable years beginning after December 31, 2009.
Amendment by Sec. 844(f) of Pub. L. 109-280 effective as if included in section 321(a) of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2004 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Sec. 207(25) of Pub. L. 108-311 effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2004.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1998 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Sec. 6023(28) of Pub. L. 105-206 effective on the date of enactment [enacted: July 22, 1998].
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1997 AMENDMENTS
Amendments by Sec. 1602 of Pub. L. 105-34 effective as if included in the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 to which such amendments relate.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section generally applicable to contracts issued after Dec. 31, 1996, but see the
exceptions below.
Section 321(f) of Pub. L. 104-191 provided that:
“(2) Continuation of existing policies.--In the case of any contract issued
before January 1, 1997, which met the long-term care insurance requirements of the
State in which the contract was sitused at the time the contract was issued--
(A) such contract shall be treated for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as a qualified long-term care insurance contract (as defined in section 7702B(b)
of such Code), and
(B) services provided under, or reimbursed by, such contract shall be treated for
such purposes as qualified long-term care services (as defined in section 7702B(c)
of such Code).
In the case of an individual who is covered on December 31, 1996, under a State long-term
care plan (as defined in section 7702B(f)(2) of such Code), the terms of such plan
on such date shall be treated for purposes of the preceding sentence as a contract
issued on such date which met the long-term care insurance requirements of such State.
(3) Exchanges of existing policies.--If, after the date of enactment of this Act and
before January 1, 1998, a contract providing for long-term care insurance coverage
is exchanged solely for a qualified long-term care insurance contract (as defined
in section 7702B(b) of such Code), no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange.
If, in addition to a qualified long-term care insurance contract, money or other property
is received in the exchange, then any gain shall be recognized to the extent of the
sum of the money and the fair market value of the other property received. For purposes
of this paragraph, the cancellation of a contract providing for long-term care insurance
coverage and reinvestment of the cancellation proceeds in a qualified long-term care
insurance contract within 60 days thereafter shall be treated as an exchange.
(4) Issuance of certain riders permitted.--For purposes of applying sections 101(f),
7702, and 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to any contract--
(A) the issuance of a rider which is treated as a qualified long-term care insurance
contract under section 7702B, and
(B) the addition of any provision required to conform any other long-term care rider
to be so treated, shall not be treated as a modification or material change of such
contract.
(5) Application of per diem limitation to existing contracts.--The amount of per diem
payments made under a contract issued on or before July 31, 1996, with respect to
an insured which are excludable from gross income by reason of section 7702B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as added by this section) shall not be reduced under subsection (d)(2)(B)
thereof by reason of reimbursements received under a contract issued on or before
such date. The preceding sentence shall cease to apply as of the date
(after July 31, 1996) such contract is exchanged or there is any contract modification
which results in an increase in the amount of such per diem payments or the amount
of such reimbursements.”
