Indeed long-term care insurance is expensive, but as you have stated the cost can vary from $1,000 to $7,000 annually, compared to the cost of care which can be around $50K-$100K a year, ltci is still a smart choice. There are several ways to pay for ltci (http://longtermcare.gov/costs-how-to-pay/). Besides, the affordability of your policy can also be identified based on the insurance company where bought your policy. Although shared ltci is a great product as well, each product is unique, you can't compare it to traditional ltci because it only applies to couples, so if you are divorced, single or widowed, you can't take advantage of the share care plan.
It is important to acquire a policy that is relevant to your personal circumstances.

Long term care insurance costs can go anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 annually but the rates can go higher depending on your age, health and location. It is a must-have product for me today since people are living much longer and will require long-term care that costs a lot too. Since a lot of people can't afford this, insurance companies have come up with newer products like combination products and this shared policy. I would approve of the latter since it is much cheaper than traditional long-term care insurance and it allows couples to share long-term care benefits. This is economical and a great alternative for couples who want to get covered. Married couples should check this out and purchase this in case the traditional policy doesn't appeal to them. Thanks for sharing!