You have spent decades running into danger while everyone else runs away. You have racked up injuries, sleepless nights, and more stress than any human should legally endure. Now, you’re finally seeing the glow of retirement, promising on the horizon – your well-earned break from the madness.
Or so you think.
Some first responders retire healthy. Most do not. And if you’re planning on rolling the dice and assuming you will be one of the lucky ones, you might as well slap your pension on the roulette table and let it ride.
Because if you end up needing long-term care—and statistically, you probably will—it’s going to cost you. Big time.
So let’s take a look at who wins and loses in the long-term care lottery, and whether you’re making the smartest bet for your future.
The First Responder Long-Term Care Lottery
Winner: The Unicorn Who Retires Healthy
Sure, there is a rare breed who walks away unscathed. No back issues. No arthritis. No PTSD. Just a golden parachute into a stress-free retirement filled with golf, travel, and zero regrets.
Odds of this happening: About the same as winning an actual lottery.
Loser: The ‘Tough Guy’ Who Thought He’d Be Fine
You powered through every injury, ignored the doctor’s advice, and kept telling yourself you would deal with it “later.” Guess what? Later is now. And now, you cannot get out of a chair without groaning, your knees sound like Rice Krispies, and your back is one bad move away from putting you in a wheelchair.
Odds of this happening: High. Painfully high.
Loser: The ‘I’ll Deal with It When I Get There’ Gambler
You figured you would worry about long-term care when the time came. Then the time came. And now, your pension check is being funneled straight into a nursing home, your spouse is working a second job to keep up with the bills, and your kids are Googling “affordable elder care” while silently resenting you.
Odds of this happening: If you do not have LTC coverage, it is almost a guarantee.
Winner: The One Who Planned Ahead
This person knew the risks, saw what happened to their retired buddies, and locked in long-term care coverage before their body called it quits. Now, they are getting the care they need without their family sacrificing their entire lives to keep them afloat.
Odds of this happening: 100%—if you make the right move now.
What Happens If You Do Not Have Long-Term Care Coverage?
1. Your Pension Becomes a Nursing Home Fund
Long-term care is not cheap. Assisted living? Easily $60,000+ per year. Full-time nursing care? More like $100,000+ annually. And once you need 24/7 care, your entire pension disappears overnight.
2. Your Family Pays the Price
When the money runs out, the burden shifts to your family. That means your spouse might have to go back to work. Your adult kids might have to move you in and become unpaid caregivers. And suddenly, the people you spent your whole career protecting are now the ones sacrificing everything.
3. You Lose Your Independence
Without a solid plan, you do not get a say in what happens to you. Want to stay at home? Too bad, you cannot afford in-home care. Want to pick a quality facility? Nope, Medicaid is calling the shots now. Your choices disappear the moment your bank account dries up.
Stop Betting the Farm—Lock in LTC Coverage Now
Look, you would not go into a burning building or a shootout without the right gear. So why the hell would you walk into retirement without long-term care protection?
If you are a first responder, the risks are not hypothetical—they are inevitable. Years of wear and tear on your body add up. The odds of needing long-term care are stacked against you. And the consequences of ignoring it? Catastrophic.
The smart move? Get Long-Term Care coverage from NPFBA.
Why NPFBA?
✅ Designed by first responders, for first responders—because no one else gets the job like we do.
✅ Covers the full spectrum of long-term care needs, from in-home care to assisted living and full-time nursing.
✅ Protects your pension so you are not bleeding out money when you need care the most.
✅ Ensures your family does not have to become your caregivers—because they deserve better.
Your Call to Action: Lock It In Before It is Too Late
You do not know when your body will decide it has had enough. But when it does, will you be ready?
Make the right call today. Get Long-Term Care coverage from NPFBA. Because retirement should be about enjoying life—not watching your pension go up in flames.
Do not spin the wheel. Do not gamble your future. Make the move that guarantees peace of mind—for you and the people who matter most.
