Category Archives: long term care insurance prices california

Long Term Care Facts Don’t Lie

Affordable LTCI Premiums

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

Long Term Care Facts Don’t Lie … Could This One Mistake Cost You Your Retirement Savings?

You’ve worked hard all your life and now it is time to retire. You’ve got your expenses figured out and it looks like you can finally stop working and live off interest, savings, social security, and maybe even a pension. You might even choose to work a fun part time job to stay in the mix and enjoy life a bit.

Then it happens… An unforeseen health event takes place like cancer, stroke, heart disease, or some other debilitating event.

 Luckily, you got insurance to help cover most of the medical bills, but you find out it will not be enough because this event is going to require a long-term care treatment plan that normal insurance or Medicare does not cover.

 And when 70% of those over the age of 65 will need long term care in their lifetime, you wonder why you didn’t take care of this sooner. Sure, you’ve probably heard the concept of long term care insurance, but like most other people you didn’t believe you would need it, or you simply didn’t get the right information about it.

 Did you know that 79% of the people purchasing Long Term Care policies are between ages 45-64, but only 9% of baby boomers have planned for their Long Term Care needs? When someone is unprepared for the time, cost, and emotional commitment required of family to have to take care of you, retirement doesn’t look as fun as you thought.

 And because only 9% of boomers even planned for this, 67% of the people who plan to have a loved one provide care have not asked the loved one to take care of them when the need arises. This is going to create stress among the family no matter what because most long-term care events are not a quick 30-day recovery period, they can last for 5 to 10 years, or longer in some cases. And, when long term care costs can run between $2,000 to $8,000+ per month, this can wipe out most retirement accounts efficiently.

 We know the thought of having to buy another insurance policy does not sound like a fun thing to do. But, you have so many options you may not even be aware of right now. For example, if you are in the 30% of people that enjoy health during retirement, you might be eligible for a return of premium plan where if you do not use it, you get your money back.

 Regardless of return of premium options, the fact is 99% of buyers keep their policy for the rest of their life because they know the peace of mind it provides when the unexpected happens.

 We know you want to have a fulfilling retirement full of joy and love, we also know that you do not want to become a burden or cause any strain on those that care about you most.

 That is why you can get all the facts about long-term care today when you speak to our highly trained staff and learn about what options are available to you now.

 Contact us today and get the facts about long-term care planning for retirement and you.

Baby Boomers Prepare for the Financial Care of Aging Parents in California

Baby Boomers and Aging Parents – Six Tips to Prepare For Their Care

By Katie B. Marsh

Although there is some debate over the exact age range of the Baby Boom generation, the US Census Bureau identifies most Boomers as those who were born between the years 1956 to 1965. In any case, whether you were born within that time frame or fairly close to it, chances are you are beginning to deal with end-of-life issues regarding your elderly parents. Your many considerations run the gamut from the practical to the spiritual and everything in between. So, where do you begin?

Caregivers. Imagine if we ended our lives as babies, completely dependent on a caregiver tending to all of our needs: loving us, feeding us, changing our diapers. Imagine now that we are not as cute as little babies but still have the same need to be cared for gently with love and respect. Who would you want to take care of you in this situation? Who do your parents want to care for them? This question should be posed directly to your parents. Don’t assume you know the answer. What they may have said 10 to 15 years ago may not still hold true today as they are closer to facing their mortality.

Finances. As we know, in our society it’s considered impolite to ask someone about their finances. Many adult children hesitate to inquire about the exact state of their parents’ finances for fear that their parents will think that the real questions is about potential future inheritance money. But it’s extremely important to have an honest discussion about finances at this point in life. First of all, you need to know if your parents have long-term care insurance. This is the only type of insurance that pays for future assistance that may be needed in the performance of activities of daily living. And, as the name implies, it helps cover the cost of long-term care usually for an undetermined length of time. Long-term care insurance combined with your parents’ net worth, any financial assistance from family, and personal preferences will all factor in to determining where and how your parents live out their final years.

Memoirs. The written word is a way for us to live on beyond this lifetime. Encourage your parents to share their unique stories on paper. My great grandfather actually typed his life story and had it bound in leather and embossed in gold leaf. My brother, sister, and I cherish it and each wish we had our own copy.

Legal Instruments. A living trust is a very important instrument for any family with assets to bequeath. Its main purpose is to avoid probate. Much of a family’s estate can be lost through probate; setting up a living trust is a way to prevent such a loss. It is best to hire an attorney to set up a living trust tailored to your family’s specific needs.

The next consideration is to find out to whom your parents have given or intended to give power of attorney. Power of attorney assigns power to an individual to act on your behalf to handle all of your legal and business matters in the event that you are unable to do this for yourself.

Lastly, an advance directive is a legal instrument prepared in advance by an individual. It gives health care instructions to your care providers in the event you are unable to conduct such matters on your own. A living will, power of attorney, health care proxy, and Five Wishes are all forms of an advance directive.

Possessions. A Last Will and Testament is the instrument to be prepared by your parents to assign care for their dependents, if any. This can include pets as well. Also, this is the legal mechanism through which they can identify one or more persons to manage their estate and provide instructions for the distribution of their personal possessions. This includes everything from real estate and expensive jewelry to the simplest sentimental items. Funeral and burial instructions can also be outlined here. Although this is a legal document, completing one can give great comfort to your parents, giving them control and certainty over one aspect of their lives.

Final Messages. Encourage your parents to write letters to each of their children if they feel comfortable doing so. Some families even make audio or video recordings of their elders. It can be about anything – a full life story, funny anecdotes, family stories, or loving good-byes to each of their children. My husband’s grandmother came to this country from Armenia and she recounted her tumultuous life on CD. He cherishes it and plans to share it with our children when they are older.

Your parents are entering a time of life where many people feel particularly vulnerable. This can be especially difficult for parents who are used to being in charge and may not be comfortable at all with the reversal of roles. Please keep that in mind as you gather information from them and help them create a plan for the future. If done tactfully and respectfully, this time of life can bring you closer to your parents than ever before.

Katie B. Marsh is co-author of The Birth of Dying: A Sensitive Workbook to Help You Broach and Explore End-of-Life Issues with Your Terminally Ill or Elderly Loved One http://BooksForSharing.com/

(c) Copyright – Katie B. Marsh. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_B._Marsh

Visit www.californialongtermcare.com for information and assistance with long term care insurance in California.

Long Term Care Insurance in Estate Planning: A Key Piece to the Puzzle

When people reach their fifties, they typically begin to consider estate planning. One of the main elements which needs to be taken into account during this planning, is the living will. It is a vital part that gives you and your family peace of mind for whatever circumstances may happen. The living will is not something that will be necessarily easy for yourself or your family, since it confronts you with your own mortality. However, it is essential in order to have your wishes carried out on your behalf and to have your care covered financially. 

What is a Living Will?

If something should happen to you, it is essential that your relatives are informed about your wishes. This is what a living will is for; it displays your wishes regarding prolonging medical treatments. It informs your relatives, but also healthcare workers, if you are no longer capable of conveying your wishes.

A living will is usually supported by two physicians, declaring their support when you are suffering from a terminal illness or permanent vegetative state. It is also a document that can give someone power of attorney when you are no longer capable of making decisions about your current quality of life and medical treatments. This might be a difficult conversation with the person you will be entrusting this to, but again, it is essential to ensure the comfort and peace of mind for your family and loved ones. Even though it is a difficult thing to discuss, you must make sure that someone is aware of your living will. If nobody knows, it will be of no use when something happens to you. Once you write your living will, you need to ensure it is financially covered.

What is Long Term Care Insurance and the benefits?

Long Term Care Insurance will cover medical costs, and even home care, something most medical insurance plans do not cover. When you encounter serious medical costs at a point later in life, it might eat up your entire pension and even your savings. So why not prepare yourself for these types of scenarios? Make sure you are covered, but also make sure your family is protected by choosing a long term care insurance plan.

Role of Long term care insurance in estate planning

We cannot predict what will happen in our lives. We could become gravely ill and encounter serious medical costs. We could even be in need of a live-in health professional. Although these are things we do not like to think about, we want to be prepared if the worst does happen.

The long term care insurance helps to pay for assisted living, nursing facilities or even physiotherapy if you have been injured in a serious accident. It also covers illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. You won’t have to worry about paying for a care worker that will help you or a relative bath, dress and even eat. The long term care insurance plan will be there in your time of need and not take away the hard earned money that you have been saving for years. Including long term insurance in your living will, as a means of covering potential costs for you and your family in the future, is a key piece to the estate planning puzzle.

To speak to a representative or schedule an appointment, simply fill out the form to the right to contact us.

Affordable California Long Term Care Insurance Premiums

Affordable LTCI Premiums

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

My husband and I are in our fifties.  A few years ago we were looking for affordable California Long Term Care premiums. We did our research,  decided to take the plunge and purchased Long Term Care insurance (LTCI).  Most of our friends are in the same age range.  I am often asked at social events how much the yearly premium is and people are surprised to hear that our premiums for our plans are $100 each per month. 

The average premium for LTCI is between $150 – $300 per month.  Everyone I talk to has heard that LTCI is expensive and expects to hear a number much higher. However, with the help of a licensed agent, you can find affordable California Long Term Care Insurance for around $150 per month.  

The premium depends on many factors. For example my car insurance could be a lot more expensive than it is but I chose coverage that keeps the premium lower and searched for discounts that would help, like a good student discount for our teenager.  LTCI is similar.  Some companies offer better deals than others depending on your situation.  Your health and marital status can impact the premium.  However, the biggest factor besides the coverage you select is your age; the younger you are when you purchase LTCI the lower the premium you pay throughout your lifetime. 

Besides the peace of mind, another thing that helps us my husband and I feel better about purchasing LTCI is that the premiums are tax deductible as a business expense. 

What I want you to take away from this blog is despite the conventional thinking, affordable California Long Term Care Insurance premiums are possible. We can find the best plan for your budget and give you details on the tax treatment for individuals and businesses.

To speak to a representative or schedule an appointment, simply fill out the form to the right to contact us.

Long Term Care Insurance and Healthcare Professionals

Ask most any nurse, doctors, or health care professionals the value of long-term care planning, and you are bound to get stories of joy, love, compassion, perseverance. Ask again, and you may get the stories of sadness, desperation, fear, and frustration felt by the families that failed to plan.

Healthcare professionals have a unique perspective on Long Term Care planning. Faced with daily exposure to illness, injury, disease, and the effects of old age that create a long-term care need makes them more inclined to think “what if?” about their planning needs.

Interestingly, if you were to take a random survey of those that had long-term care plans in place against those that do not, you would most likely find health care professionals do not have any plan in place, or have an inadequate or overpriced plan through their employer or group.

Some organizations (hospitals, unions…etc.) offer a negotiated group offering for Long-term care protection to healthcare professionals but this is not always the best rate available to them. It is highly recommend that before committing to group coverage, health professionals should consult with an independent agency to explore all their options.

In addition, with the constant advances in medical science, people are surviving more conditions than in the past, but facing an increased need for ongoing care. Protecting your choices for ongoing care with long-term care plans is where you make the best decision.

There are some basic considerations when thinking about long-term care planning. Healthcare professionals are often advised about patient’s Living Wills. A living will tells which treatment you want if your life is threatened, including Dialysis and breathing machines, resuscitation if you stop breathing or if your heart stops, and/or tube feeding.

Often, patients and their families will reveal information about their intentions for long-term caregiving too. Unfortunately, many times patients and families will ask for advice because no plans have been made for how to manage a long-term care event or how to pay for it.

The government reports that 70% of people that reach age 65 will have a long-term care event during their remaining lifetime. The majority of the people needing care will be woman. Also noteworthy is that 37% of people needing long-term care services are under 65.

Nurses are a particularly vulnerable group because their job demands can create musculoskeletal problems. The American Nurses Association published a report in 2011 that showed 42% of nurses surveyed had been injured on the job at least once in the last 12 months.

Healthcare professionals are often motivated to pursue their chosen field because of their motivation to help. That generous spirit can be a burden late in life for even the most generous.

For this reason we find that we have had a significant number of people from the healthcare field investigate Long Term Care plans and make those plans part of their safety and security. A Long Term Care plan secures their income, assets and futures. Take a moment today and see how simple planning for long-term care can be: fill out the form to the right for your free guide.

Do Long Term Care Insurance Numbers Make Sense for The Policyholder?

According to a recent article published by the National Association of Health Underwriters it was disclosed that, “a 60-year-old who pays premiums through age 82 (on a statistically representative policy), then show how 22-years of premium payments would quickly be returned after just five months on claim. By comparison, a 60-year-old without insurance would have to set aside $1,666 each month (at 2% interest) to achieve what our LTCI policyholder can leverage with just $188 per month” (Forman, 2015, pp 4-5).

Additional statistics were given in this article that spoke to the growth of long term care insurance numbers, not only in California, but also across the country. As it stands right now, there is an estimated face value of policies in force that is $1.98 Trillion Dollars. The NAHU article talks about the long-term care industry and claims experience, based on the total face value premium of just under 2 Trillion, it is estimated that just under $700 Billion Dollars of claims will be paid out on the current policies in force. The article offers a comparison to its most recent statistic that in the US, in 2010 roughly $210 Billion Dollars was paid out in long term care insurance claims.

It is clear that the long term care insurance need is in growth mode as more and more baby boomers begin looking at their future, and more importantly, the quality of care they will receive when no longer able to care for themselves independently, or with a little assistance. Long term care insurance is not always the most fun conversation to have, and with the complex and often confusing system in California, it can be an uphill battle.

It is important when planning your future to consider the help of a licensed and qualified professional. You already use doctors to help you heal, accountants to help you with financial records, and attorneys to assist with legal concerns; it is time to enlist the help of a California long-term care specialist so you can make an educated decision about your future health care needs.

Fill out the form to the right, get your guide to LTCI and contact your California Long Term Care Specialist today and get started with your planning. This service is Free!

Reference:

Forman, S.D., (June 2015) “Dog Bites Man”, National Association of Health Underwriters, retrieved 08/02/2015 at http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/nahultci/issues/2015-06-16/3.html

What Are These Celebrities Saying About Long Term Care?

Angela Basset, Rob Lowe, Jim Nantz, Maria Shriver, Zachary Quinto, and Maggie Gyllenhaal recently shared their experiences and thoughts on the issue of “having that conversation” with a loved one regarding long term care planning.

We have helped over 30,000 people with their long-term care coverage needs.

Fill out our short form to the right of this page, download your Free guide and let one of our specialists help you discover all options available to you. This service is absolutely FREE!

According to a February 2015 ABC News story, “Bassett, 56, had to deal with different long-term care situations involving both her mother, Betty Jane, who died last year, and mother-in-law, who was diagnosed with ALS and is now living with her family. “I know the importance of it,” she said of having the discussion with your kids or other loved ones. “It’s absolutely something we are each going to deal with, our parents as well as ourselves, one day.”

Rob Lowe made a point about YOU being the architect of your future, and shared a story about his father who not only one a prestigious golf and tennis championship, but who also received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that very same week.

No one actually knows how they are going to age, if they will get sick, require care, or even if they outlive all of their family. Having the conversation about long-term care can be difficult because you need to admit that at some point like 70% of the 65 and older population, you may need some help. Angela Basset and Rob Lowe also pointed out that neither Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, nor neither do the vast majority of other health care insurance policies cover long-term care medical expenses.

California is also a state with a very scattered long-term care network. There are over a 100 program options with 20 offices that administer those programs. There are currently discussions on reworking the State long-term care systems to cut back on waste, confusion, and being able to meet the needs of a growing culturally diverse population.

Long term care planning includes certain medical needs that most health insurance companies are not equipped to take care of, that is why it is important; as the architect of your future, that you get a solid blueprint in place of what your future is going to look like.

That is why California Long Term Care Insurance Agency is here to help you understand all of your options and find the best possible plan designed to fit your needs now, and in the future.

Fill out our short form to the right of this page, download your Free guide and let one of our specialists help you discover all options available to you. This service is absolutely FREE!

ABC News Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/angela-bassett-long-term-care-conversation/story?id=29221506

Long Term Care Insurance – Answers to Common Questions in N California

Long Term Care Insurance – Answers to Common Questions

Will You need Long Term Care?

It’s hard to believe, but the estimated risk for needing Long Term Care continues to climb with each passing year. Now, the Federal government estimates that each individual has a 70% chance of needing Long Term Care in their lifetime. Recent studies reveal that if you are 60 years old you have more than a 60% chance of needing long term care. If you are over 65 years old, your chances of needing care goes up to 70%.

Who Is More At Risk for Needing Long Term Care?

Your age, marital status, gender, lifestyle and, to some extent, your family health history all play a part in the possibility of needing long term care.

According to insurance actuarials, you are more at risk if you:

* are older
* are a woman
* are single
* have a poor diet
* don’t exercise regularly
* smoke
* have a family history of Alzheimer’s, stroke, arthritis, or other degenerative diseases.
* Also, physical activities that can cause severe accidents should be included as a definite risk.

The Long Term Care Cycle

91% of Americans surveyed said they would prefer receiving Long Term Care at home. Indeed, of those needing care only 5% are in Skilled Nursing Facilites.

12% are in Assisted Living Facilities and more than 80% are receiving Home Care

Therefore, it isn’t a surprise that most Long Term Care starts at home with the help of family or friends until the caregiving burden becomes a too much of a hardship. The next step might be to hire a paid caregiver to help with care duties in the home. Yet many people can’t afford such a luxury, even if they hire unskilled, unlicensed, unsupervised “grey market” caregivers. As care needs increase the next care setting of preference is Assisted Living Facilities, as they are more like hotels than the hospital-type setting of a Skilled Nursing Facility. Most people do everything in their power to stay out of nursing homes, which is one reason why the average nursing home stay is only 2.5 years.

While most Americans suspect that they might need long term care “sometime” in the future, many underestimate care costs and falsely assume that Medicare or their health insurance will pay for extended care. They will not. Medicare will only pay for a short time and only under specific, limited circumstances. The only governement agencies that pay for Long Term Care are Medicaid and the Veteran’s Administration. Both are notorious for their lack of care quality and poor quality of life for their residents.

Boomers’ Mindset

Boomers have been raised to expect a decent quality of life and the freedom to make their own choices. They cherish independence, pleasure and, as they have matured, the joys of family and friends.

As a generation, Boomers were not raised to expect or shoulder sacrifice, although they can and do rise to the occasion. For most, the mere thought of a loved one enduring the extraordinary burden and sacrifice of day-to-day caregiving is enough to motivate Boomers to protect themselves and their families.

The value of Long Term Care insurance is that it:

1) supports independence by providing the ability to pay for Home Care and Assisted Living costs. It give people choices.
2) protects loved ones from the burdens of caregiving.

Long Term Care insurance should be called “nursing home and family caregiving prevention insurance”, and for these benefits alone it is worth its price.

Either having LTC insurance or paying for care costs out-of-pocket allows you to choose where to receive care, even when caregiving needs increase. However, Long Term Care insurance is less expensive in the long-run.

When Should I Buy Long Term Care Insurance?

The sooner the better! LTC insurance premiums go up in price as you get older, although once you buy a policy your premiums do not rise due to aging or health. For years, financial planners were telling their clients to wait until age 65, but this is no longer considered sound advice. The Federal and State Partnership Programs encourage people to buy as early as age 40, mostly to increase the financial security of the programs, but also to ensure that people do not become a burden on Welfare/Medicaid if they get sick or injured at an early age and need long term care.

If you can afford the premium for years to come, buy now to protect yourself and your family.

Please visit www.californialongtermcare.com if you would like more information regarding Long Term Care Insurance.

Insure Your Retirement Funds with Long Term Care Insurance in California

Insuring Your Retirement Funds

It might sound strange to be told to insure your retirement funds, but after working hard and diligently saving all that money, wouldn’t you want to make sure that the funds will be there for you when you need them?

As you move into retirement, you are also moving towards age-related health problems. Events beyond your control, such as stroke, heart disease and cognitive impairment can change one’s way of life.

Many people are under the impression that government programs such as Medicare or Medicaid will cover the costs of long term care. Medicare will cover some skilled nursing for a limited period. Medicaid will only cover long term care costs for impoverished individuals. Health insurance does not cover nursing home or other long term care costs except for short-term rehabilitation.

Out of pocket costs for needed long term care resulting from age-related health problems such as home care, nursing home or assisted living will quickly deplete retirement funds and leave the remaining healthy spouse impoverished.

Long term care insurance is the answer to insure your retirement funds and provide protection so that the money stays intact and at the same time insurance provides a way to pay for elder care services.

In his book “The Total Money Makeover ,” Dave Ramsey says of long term care insurance, “If you are over sixty, buy long term care insurance to cover in-home care or nursing home care. The average nursing home stay costs $100,000 per year, which will crack and scramble a nest egg in a heartbeat. Dad in the nursing home can use up Mom’s $250,000 savings in just a few short years.”

Long term care Insurance to insure your retirement makes sense. You insure your car against damage, your home against fire, and you purchase life insurance, so why not insure what can be the largest and most devastating risk to you and your family? And unlike the other risks you insure against, long term care is the most likely to happen. Long term care insurance will also help you keep your independence and dignity and allow you to make choices about where you want to spend your final years.

Here are some specific reasons for buying long term care insurance:

•  If you are married and you have a need for long term care, your spouse will be able to pay for an outside caregiver and receive needed rest and recuperation.

•  If your children promise to take care of you, then when the time comes that you need care, insurance will help them do that by paying for aides to help with tasks such as bathing and incontinence.

•  If you are single and a need for long term care arises and you have no family who can help you, insurance can pay for and coordinate that care.

•  If you have the desire to leave assets behind when you die, insurance will help preserve those assets from the cost of long term care.

“You should also consider buying long term care insurance at a younger age. There is an advantage for doing this. The premium is lower.

For example, a person, currently age 45, buying a typical policy with a spouse, could spend $21,146 in total premiums to age 78.

Suppose this same person chooses to wait to buy the equivalent coverage at age 65.

If that same policy were available in the future, the couple that waits could pay $52,566 in total premiums over their 13 remaining years to age 78. Because they waited, they would pay 2 ½ times more for the same policy.

In addition to the rates going up with age, the health qualifications will be stricter and development of health problems related to aging may even disqualify a person from obtaining a policy.” “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” National Care Planning Council

There are dozens of long term care insurance companies selling a multitude of different policy options. It can become very confusing. For each policy, there are literally thousands of benefit combinations for home care, assisted living, nursing home care, waiting periods, payment amounts, inflation riders, and the list goes on.

You can take the time to do your own research or find a competent long term care insurance agent.

Here is a checklist of some of the things you need to know before you purchase a policy.

LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE BUYING CHECKLIST

The more “yes” answers you get the better off you are.

1) Is the insurance company rated by A. M. Best (the rating company)

with a rating of at least A, A+ or A++?

2) Is it a large diversified company with deep pockets and selling more

than just long term care insurance?

3) Is the insurance representative an expert in long term care

insurance? (Because of its complexity, almost all LTCi experts only

sell LTCi; they seldom sell anything else.)

4) Does the representative have a degree and/or industry financial

designations?

5) Does the representative own a personal long term care insurance

policy for himself or herself?

6) Is the policy you like tax qualified, and if not, do you understand the

ramifications?

7) Are there at least 6 ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) allowed for

in the benefit certification?

8 Does it allow “standby assistance”?

9) Is it a “pool of money” as opposed to a “stated period”?

10) Is it “integrated” as opposed to “2-pool”? (2-pool is not allowed in

many states.)

11) Do you understand how the elimination period works? (This is

extremely important.)

12) Does it have prohibitive cost containment provisions?

13) Is there any “capping” or other future reduction of automatic benefit

increase riders?

14) Do you understand how the waiver of premium works?

15) Does the assisted living facility benefit pay the same as for nursing

home?

16) Are you buying adequate home care coverage?

17) Does the company have a history of premium rate stability without

periodic increases?

18) Does the policy pay for homemaker services?

19) Does the policy offer an alternative plan of care for services that

don’t exist today?

The National Care Planning Council provides a list of long term care insurance specialists and on its website at www.longtermcarelink.net .

Visit us at www.californialongtermcare.com for help with your retirement needs in California.

Return of Premium and Repositioning for Long Term Care Insurance

Affordable LTCI Premiums

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

What if I buy a long term care insurance policy, pay them premiums for 10, 15. 20 years and never use it? Does that mean I lose money? One of the things that makes people hesitate to purchase Long Term Care (LTC) insurance is the possibility that they may never need to use it.  This is really more of a hope since 70% of us will need care during our lives.

This is very valid concern, and many people feel the same way. What most people find though is that when a catastrophic claim happens, they think less about the few dollars they saved switching carriers and more about if they have the best policy that is going to cover their losses and get them even again. Insurance professionals know that the only time their clients are not worried about insurance premiums is when they call in with a claim and need help.

 Have you ever taken an insurance inventory? Think about all the policies you have right now… do you own a car and have car insurance? How about a home with homeowners insurance? Do you have life insurance through work or a private policy on someone you love? Do you carry health insurance, maybe dental and vision coverage?

 If insurance is so expensive and we worry about the “what if” we never use it, then why buy insurance at all? If you look at the entire business of insurance, it is based on losses and insuring against the “what-ifs” that most people prefer to not think about. Insurance companies understand this, and so to make it easier, they have developed policies that protect their clients, and give them relief should they never actually use certain policies.

 Frankly, I hope that planning for long-term care means I will not need it. (I also hope I do not need to use my homeowners, auto and health insurance.)  There are few ways to solve this problem.  One is to get coverage that includes a Return of Premium feature.  If you never need to use the policy then the premiums are returned to your estate or beneficiary. 

 Another option is to move the cash value of an existing Life insurance or Annuity into a policy that includes LTC coverage.  This repositioning of the value can provide coverage at no cost.  A final thought is to purchase a Life insurance or annuity plan with an LTC rider.  Then you get the money no matter what happens between now and then.  There are many ways to plan for the worst and hope for the best. 

 Some of these policies can be complex and confusing, and that is why agents specialize in certain types of insurance, attend on-going education each year to stay on top of laws, policy changes, and regulatory matters. When you want to buy an insurance policy that will not only cover you in the event of a loss, but also give you your money back should you never use it, you ought to speak to a licensed and qualified professional who specializes in this coverage. You wouldn’t go to a brain doctor for heart surgery right?

 That is why we screen all of our agents based on their commitment to the industry, industry training credentials, and areas of expertise. When you speak to one of our agents today about a Return of Premium policy, or Rider based product, you are going to know you have the most qualified person to help answer your unique questions, and provide you with the best options to choose from.

 Go ahead and get in touch with our specialists today, simply enter your details on the right hand side and we look forward to speaking to you shortly to give you the information you need.