Long-term care insurance, which covers expenses for those with long-term disabilities, is a smart thing to buy. But when? One strategy has been to wait until retirement. That may be a bad plan, according to new research from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. The group looked at the records of major insurance companies and 250,000 consumers. It found that 22.9 percent of those age 60 to 69 get turned down for a policy. A better chance: In your 50s, only 14 percent are rejected. Of course, you’ll be paying for the policy for more years. But at least you’ll have one.