(a) The premiums paid for a long-term care insurance contract are deductible pursuant to Section 40-18-15, if the contract meets the following requirements:

(1) Offers coverage only for qualified long-term care services and benefits incidental to the coverage.

(2) Guaranteed renewal.

(3) No cash surrender value.

(4) All refunds of premiums and all policyholder dividends or similar amounts under the contract are to be applied as a reduction in future premiums or to increase future benefits, except for a refund of premiums on surrender or cancellation of the policy.

(b) For purposes of this chapter, a long-term care insurance contract shall be treated as an accident or health insurance contract. The amount of coverage under the long-term care insurance contract shall be equal to or greater than Medicaid coverage for a period of at least three years.

(c) An insurance contract shall not fail to be treated as a long-term care contract by reason of the 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.

(d) A long-term care insurance contract may cover Medicare reimbursable expenses where Medicare is a secondary payor.

(e) In the case of long-term care insurance coverage provided by a rider on a life insurance contract, this chapter shall apply as if the portion of the contract providing long-term care coverage was a separate contract.

(f) The deduction is available to the person or entity who pays the premiums.