5. Hartford, Conn.

Nursing home private room annual rate: $154,118

The average cost for nursing home care in the United States has climbed significantly overthe past five years, up 20 percent to $95,706 per year from $79,935 in 2009, according to New York Life.

Photo: Main Street in East Hartford.

4. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY

Nursing home private room annual rate: $155,180

In addition to the rising cost of LTC, there's a rising need for the care. Estimates find that seven in 10 Americans over the age of 65 will become cognitively impaired or unable to complete at least two activities of daily living over their lifetimes.

Photo: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. By Julian Colton.

3. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ

Nursing home private room annual rate: $155,180

New York Life executives say long-term care insurance is vital to calming the high costs of care.

“It is important for Americans to consider that for about $160 a month, long-term care insurance could help defray the cost of long-term care and provide the financing so families can choose their desired method of care,” said Craig DeSanto, senior vice president, New York Life.

Photo: New York City, with the Empire State Building in the middle.

2. Anchorage

Nursing home private room annual rate: $156,950

In 2009, Anchorage was ranked the most expensive LTC market in the country. But this year, one city (or cluster of cities, rather) surpassed it.

Photo: Anchorage, Alaska. By Frank Kovalchek.

1. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.

Nursing home private room annual rate: $159,359

If you want long-term care coverage, Connecticut isn't the best place to be looking. Rounding out the top 10 most expensive markets are Boston-Worcester-Lawrence, Mass.; Rochester, N.Y., San Diego; Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash., and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Calif.

Photo: Norwalk City Hall.