I’m afraid to die, does it hurt? Where will I go? Will my mom be there?
A major consideration when planning for a successful future retirement is longevity. With longevity comes Long-Term Health Care. The financial costs and burdens of aging not only impact you, but your family, savings and lifestyle as well. Long-Term Care Insurance makes it easier on you and your family. The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance said the nation's insurance companies paid $9.2 Billion in benefits to American families in 2017 alone.
As you search the internet you may find information which is not fully accurate. It's important to consider a few facts prior to retirement.
The US Department of Health and Human Services states if you reach the age of 65, you have a 7 in 10 chance of needing some type of Long-Term Care service. In 2016, the value of assistance provided by unpaid caregivers to people with Alzheimer's or dementia was over $230 billion.
Many people think Long-Term Care will not happen to them. Others think their family will be able to take care of them without any problem. The fact remains as medical science advances the risk of needing care increases with longevity. Without an advance plan the impact is tremendous.
The national average for one year of home care is $49,192 based on a 44-hour week. Assisted living national average is $45,000 a year, and one year of skilled nursing costs nearly $100,000 annually. In 20 years, these costs will certainly increase.
You must factor the financial costs and burdens of aging as part of your retirement planning. Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance will provide the resources for quality care, either at home or in a facility, allowing family to be family.
Nearly half the people who apply for LTC Insurance after age 70 are declined because of health, compared to 17 percent for those under age 60. Premiums are very affordable - especially when you are younger. Acting prior to retirement is key.
Premiums are intended to remain level, based on your health, age and the amount of benefits you apply for. You may read articles about rate increases. These increases have to do with "legacy products". These are older series of policies that were priced prior to the interest rate crash and rate stabilization.
First, most long-term care insurance policies are intended to have level premiums. There are some policies where the premium does go up each year, by design, as benefits increase or you elect to increase benefits. However, most policies have premiums which are intended to remain level based on your age at the time of application, your health, and the amount of coverage you selected. Since most people will select some kind of inflation protection, the premium is intended to remain level while the benefits increase-the cost of the inflation benefit is already factored into the premium. As you read articles about premiums increasing, be aware that there are plans that intentionally go up over time.
Today, all plans are priced with the very low interest rate environment in mind (interest rates have been low in the United States over the last decade). This was not always the case. Some of the older series of products have had rate increases. Those increases were based on a few factors:
• Interest rates
• Lapse rates (meaning, how many people drop their policies. In practice, very few do, but this was not factored into premium pricing on many older plans)
• Claims and underwriting experience
Today, underwriting is much more scientific and conservative than before. Premium costs now consider low interest rates, low lapse rates and actual claims experience as well. The Society of Actuaries suggests the chance of a rate increase on a long-term care policy sold today is very, very low. Regardless of those facts, it is also not easy for insurance companies to raise rates on the products being sold today.
Working with a Long-Term Care specialist will allow you to get the accurate information you seek. There are several reference websites for research:
LTC News offers articles and resources: http://www.ltcnews.com
US Department of Health and Human Services: https://longtermcare.acl.gov/
Long-Term Care will impact you, your family, your savings and your lifestyle. Long-Term Care Insurance is Easy and Affordable Asset Protection. These plans not only protect your savings but reduce the burdens placed on families members. Act before you retire to take advantage of lower premiums and your overall better health.
As we grow older, the probability that we will need in-home or facility-based long-term-care services increases greatly. Long-term-care insurance will pay some or all of the costs of this care. Given the high costs of these services, why don't more people buy insurance that will pay for them? They often fail to act because they make mistakes like the following. You want to avoid them, don't you? Read on!
Mistake 1 - Procrastination. Neither you nor I like to think about a time in the future when we may be unable to meet our needs independently. The very thought is at least unsettling. It might even be frightening.
You may feel fine and healthy now. You may find it hard to think about a future when you are frail.
What to do Instead - Look at the numbers: The National Center for Long Term Care Information says that more than 70% of all 65 year olds will need some kind of long term care services during their lives.
The Oregon Insurance Division has reported that in 2007 a year in a private room in a nursing home cost about $76, 000 in Portland and $71,000 in the rest of the state. The services of a Home Health Aid cost about $31 per hour in the Portland area and $46 in the rest of Oregon. Those numbers are 8 years old. They are certainly much higher now.
Do you want to bet that you will not need these services? If you lose the wager, it will cost you.
Mistake 2 - Worrying about the cost. Yes, long-term-care insurance is expensive. After thinking about your cost-of-living and setting aside an emergency fund, you may not be able to pay the premiums.
But, if you can afford the premiums and want to buy a policy, waiting is another gamble. Insurance companies look carefully at your health before issuing a long-term-care-insurance policy. If you wait too long, an unexpected health problem may prevent you from buying any policy.
What to do instead - Determine if you might be able to afford a policy and if you want to buy one. Visit an insurance advisor.
Your advisor can review your financial situation with you. He can also recommend a policy or policies that would best fit your financial circumstances and meet your specific needs/
Mistake 3 - Failing to consult an insurance advisor. You have probably read that insurance salespeople are concerned only with selling you policies in order to earn a commission. This may have made you hesitant to consult an advisor.
That may be true of some advisors. After all, bad apples exist in every occupation. It is not true of all of them.
You need an advisor to assist you in reviewing your financial situation. More important, an advisor can tell you what products are available to meet your specific needs. She can also allow you to understand why that is so.
What to do Instead - Meet with an insurance advisor after you have done your basic research on the internet. Realize that you are the person who decides how that meeting proceeds. Come with a prepared set of questions.
If the answers are not satisfactory or if some other aspect of the meeting does not meet your expectations, find a new advisor.
To further investigate insured financial planning and long-term-care insurance.
As you search the internet you may find information which is not fully accurate. It's important to consider a few facts prior to retirement.
The US Department of Health and Human Services states if you reach the age of 65, you have a 7 in 10 chance of needing some type of Long-Term Care service. In 2016, the value of assistance provided by unpaid caregivers to people with Alzheimer's or dementia was over $230 billion.
Many people think Long-Term Care will not happen to them. Others think their family will be able to take care of them without any problem. The fact remains as medical science advances the risk of needing care increases with longevity. Without an advance plan the impact is tremendous.
The national average for one year of home care is $49,192 based on a 44-hour week. Assisted living national average is $45,000 a year, and one year of skilled nursing costs nearly $100,000 annually. In 20 years, these costs will certainly increase.
You must factor the financial costs and burdens of aging as part of your retirement planning. Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance will provide the resources for quality care, either at home or in a facility, allowing family to be family.
Nearly half the people who apply for LTC Insurance after age 70 are declined because of health, compared to 17 percent for those under age 60. Premiums are very affordable - especially when you are younger. Acting prior to retirement is key.
Premiums are intended to remain level, based on your health, age and the amount of benefits you apply for. You may read articles about rate increases. These increases have to do with "legacy products". These are older series of policies that were priced prior to the interest rate crash and rate stabilization.
First, most long-term care insurance policies are intended to have level premiums. There are some policies where the premium does go up each year, by design, as benefits increase or you elect to increase benefits. However, most policies have premiums which are intended to remain level based on your age at the time of application, your health, and the amount of coverage you selected. Since most people will select some kind of inflation protection, the premium is intended to remain level while the benefits increase-the cost of the inflation benefit is already factored into the premium. As you read articles about premiums increasing, be aware that there are plans that intentionally go up over time.
Today, all plans are priced with the very low interest rate environment in mind (interest rates have been low in the United States over the last decade). This was not always the case. Some of the older series of products have had rate increases. Those increases were based on a few factors:
• Interest rates
• Lapse rates (meaning, how many people drop their policies. In practice, very few do, but this was not factored into premium pricing on many older plans)
• Claims and underwriting experience
Today, underwriting is much more scientific and conservative than before. Premium costs now consider low interest rates, low lapse rates and actual claims experience as well. The Society of Actuaries suggests the chance of a rate increase on a long-term care policy sold today is very, very low. Regardless of those facts, it is also not easy for insurance companies to raise rates on the products being sold today.
Working with a Long-Term Care specialist will allow you to get the accurate information you seek. There are several reference websites for research:
LTC News offers articles and resources: http://www.ltcnews.com
US Department of Health and Human Services: https://longtermcare.acl.gov/
Long-Term Care will impact you, your family, your savings and your lifestyle. Long-Term Care Insurance is Easy and Affordable Asset Protection. These plans not only protect your savings but reduce the burdens placed on families members. Act before you retire to take advantage of lower premiums and your overall better health.
As we grow older, the probability that we will need in-home or facility-based long-term-care services increases greatly. Long-term-care insurance will pay some or all of the costs of this care. Given the high costs of these services, why don't more people buy insurance that will pay for them? They often fail to act because they make mistakes like the following. You want to avoid them, don't you? Read on!
Mistake 1 - Procrastination. Neither you nor I like to think about a time in the future when we may be unable to meet our needs independently. The very thought is at least unsettling. It might even be frightening.
You may feel fine and healthy now. You may find it hard to think about a future when you are frail.
What to do Instead - Look at the numbers: The National Center for Long Term Care Information says that more than 70% of all 65 year olds will need some kind of long term care services during their lives.
The Oregon Insurance Division has reported that in 2007 a year in a private room in a nursing home cost about $76, 000 in Portland and $71,000 in the rest of the state. The services of a Home Health Aid cost about $31 per hour in the Portland area and $46 in the rest of Oregon. Those numbers are 8 years old. They are certainly much higher now.
Do you want to bet that you will not need these services? If you lose the wager, it will cost you.
Mistake 2 - Worrying about the cost. Yes, long-term-care insurance is expensive. After thinking about your cost-of-living and setting aside an emergency fund, you may not be able to pay the premiums.
But, if you can afford the premiums and want to buy a policy, waiting is another gamble. Insurance companies look carefully at your health before issuing a long-term-care-insurance policy. If you wait too long, an unexpected health problem may prevent you from buying any policy.
What to do instead - Determine if you might be able to afford a policy and if you want to buy one. Visit an insurance advisor.
Your advisor can review your financial situation with you. He can also recommend a policy or policies that would best fit your financial circumstances and meet your specific needs/
Mistake 3 - Failing to consult an insurance advisor. You have probably read that insurance salespeople are concerned only with selling you policies in order to earn a commission. This may have made you hesitant to consult an advisor.
That may be true of some advisors. After all, bad apples exist in every occupation. It is not true of all of them.
You need an advisor to assist you in reviewing your financial situation. More important, an advisor can tell you what products are available to meet your specific needs. She can also allow you to understand why that is so.
What to do Instead - Meet with an insurance advisor after you have done your basic research on the internet. Realize that you are the person who decides how that meeting proceeds. Come with a prepared set of questions.
If the answers are not satisfactory or if some other aspect of the meeting does not meet your expectations, find a new advisor.
To further investigate insured financial planning and long-term-care insurance.
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I’m afraid to die, does it hurt? Where will I go? Will my mom be there ?
She’s so darn sweet it’s as if she knows and just wants reassurance all will be ok when they put her to sleep
This is one very sweet lil girl - young with whole life ahead of her
Once again, no ones interested in black dogs or mixes ...
So unfair she deserves a chance
Been here since April 10th
Has multiple posts
- Last call - Violet needs help now
Located Rural Nueces County South Texas - KENNEL 5 - ID : 64234
PM PAGE: or text/call
(410) 608-2195
Thread and update here
For many Americans, buying insurance to cover your home, car and health is standard practice. But long-term care insurance is a mystery for many, even though it offers important financial protection against some of life's uncertainties.
The goal of long-term care (LTC) insurance is to protect the policy owner from footing the entire bill of an extended stay in a healthcare facility, such as a nursing home or rehabilitation center.
Because there's no telling whether you will need long-term care in the future, and the costs can run very high if you do, it's worth your while to learn about your long-term care insurance options and make an informed decision.
It's possible that at some point later in life you may need specialized care. For example, as you get older, your physician may discharge you to a nursing home following a hospitalization for surgery or illness. Fortunately, Medicare will cover qualified stays up to 100 days. Sometimes, however, deteriorating mental or physical health caused by an accident, illness or dementia will lead to an extended stay in a nursing home or ongoing in-home nursing care. When this happens, even families that are in a good financial position may need to balance the expense of long-term care with their other priorities.
While Medicaid will cover long-term care costs after 100 days, this federal program requires individuals to first deplete their personal savings, among other qualifications. For this reason, even individuals who are financially comfortable may want to carefully consider long-term care insurance.
Here are some factors to think about as you consider long-term care insurance:
· Your age and health may affect your eligibility. Purchasing a policy when you're relatively young and healthy may mean more years of payments, but it also helps you lock in a benefit that may not be available when you're older or in the event you experience a health issue. The cost of a policy tends to increase with age, particularly after age 60 when health problems start to become more common. If you have a pre-existing condition, or a family history of one, you may not be eligible to purchase certain policies. Carefully review the fine print to see if any conditions are excluded from coverage.
· Long-term care insurance policies come in many forms-from barebones to all the bells and whistles. Price is only one factor to consider. Compare components of the policies side-by-side to see which plan may make sense for you. Evaluate facilities and programs in your area so that you can match your service expectations with what various policies may cover.
· Most plans are tied to the need for assistance with a pre-determined number of activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, showering and eating. You will pay more if you want a policy that requires fewer concurrent ADLs to trigger benefits.
· Consider nursing home costs in your area to determine whether you want to buy coverage on the higher or lower end of the spectrum. Choose a daily benefit - or the amount of expenses covered each day - you can live with, as you will be expected to make up the difference.
· Most plans have an elimination period, which is the amount of time that must elapse before your insurance covers the bill. This "gap" in benefits ranges from 30 to 180 days. You are responsible for 100 percent of the costs before your benefits begin.
· Inflation protection is a common plan rider that can help offset rising costs of care by increasing your eligible lifetime benefits under the plan. It's worth considering if you can afford the cost of a more generous lifetime limit.
Your financial advisor can help you calculate whether your projected future income and assets can withstand the cost of long-term care if the need arises. If there's any doubt, a long-term care insurance policy may make sense. Together you can review your options and choose a plan that helps you meet your long-term goals for financial security.
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story,". I am sure Mark Twain wasn't thinking about Long-Term Care or today's news media when he said this long ago. Today it is very easy to place a news story for people to consume. Between traditional TV and radio, an expanded 24/7 news cycle with cable news there is a lot of information available. The biggest difference today, like the old days when anyone with a printing press could print anything they like, now you just need a computer to create a news story. It seems almost everyone has a computer or smart phone and they are not afraid to use it.
The topic of Long-Term Care has become a big one with an aging America. By 2030, 1 in 4 Americans will be over the age of 50. By 2050, 1 of every 5 Americans will be 65+ according to data from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It seems like once you get around the age of 50 the conversation about Long-Term Care starts coming up. In today's world that means you hit the internet and see what information you can find. However, some articles are providing misleading or even completely erroneous information on Long-Term Care Insurance.
We have heard the term fake news, but perhaps the best way to define what is being written about Long-Term Care is just "lazy news" or "advocacy news". It seems like everyone with a computer, including myself, has an agenda. How much of this is "truth" is a matter to discuss.
Generally, there is more to a story... and the stuff left out is usually very important. The stories about Long-Term Care insurance premium rate increases are very misleading. They usually leave out many details. The reporters or "professionals" writing these articles often have an agenda to push the public in one direction or another.
The other thing to remember is the internet is also "old news" as nothing on the internet usually gets deleted. You may find and read something that is old but that story may have been updated numerous times since the first story was published making the information you are reading outdated. You must do more due diligence today to see if you are getting accurate information.
Since the issue of planning for the financial costs and burdens of aging is so important to American families you should know the facts. Often the reason the articles talk about premium increases is to scare the consumer. Maybe the writer wants the government to pay for all long-term care (not going to happen as too many people require care and budgets are tight as it is trying to take care of those with little or no savings). Perhaps the writer wants to have the consumer spend large sums of money of certain type of financial product they are selling. The consumer should understand the truth, so they can plan in advance with more peace-of-mind.
These increases that are being reported are primarily on "legacy products" These are older plans that were priced well before the interest rate crash and rate stabilization regulations.
Today, all plans are priced with the very low interest rate environment in mind (interest rates have been low in the United States over the last decade). These older plans which had increases were based on a few factors:
· Interest rates
· Lapse rates (meaning, how many people drop their policies. In practice, very few do, but this was not factored into premium pricing on many older plans)
· Claims and underwriting experience
These policies are paying huge benefits as well. In 2017 over $9.2 billion was paid in benefits to American families protecting assets and easing family burden.
The fact is these older policies were underpriced to start with and even with increases they still have outstanding value and huge benefits. Nobody likes an increase, but you must put that increase in perspective. Many of these people I speak with have huge benefits which have been increasing 5% compounded every year since they had the policy. Many have unlimited lifetime benefits as well. Since they have these huge benefits many can reduce the benefit or inflation factor to keep the premium the same. As their benefits increase far greater compared to the cost of long-term care they remain in an outstanding position.
Today's Long-Term Care insurance policies remain very affordable as people start purchasing plans prior to retirement. Underwriting is more conservative but since consumers are younger most people can still find an appropriate plan.
Experts say that the risks of increases are small but like anything there is always a chance of an approved increase. However, if you read some of the articles being published you would think the industry is dead and consumers no longer have any interest in the product.
The fact is there are still numerous insurance companies marketing Long-Term Care insurance. Consumer interest has never been greater. As I speak to other Long-Term Care Insurance specialists, like myself, we have all noticed a big increase in both consumer awareness and interest. Consumers are younger, more knowledgeable with the risks (often with first-hand experience with an elder parent or other family member) and we are bombarded with requests for information and quotes.
Consumers are seeking help from Long-Term Care specialists as most financial advisors and general insurance agents have limited knowledge and experience with the products, underwriting, policy design, benefit options and the federal/state partnership program which is available in most states. Therefore, some of these professionals push consumers into options they are more comfortable with despite the fact they might not be the best and most affordable way to address the costs and burdens of aging.
Long-Term Care Insurance, despite what you read, is very affordable for most people. With regulation and better pricing consumers enjoy additional peace-of-mind knowing they have a plan they can count on in the decades to come that will remain affordable once they retire and get older.
Many people can obtain outstanding coverage for under $150 a month, some even under $100. Premiums are based on your age at the time to get a plan, your health and the amount of benefits who wish to have. Most of the people I speak with nationwide are from ages 45 to 60.
A true Long-Term Care specialist will ask you numerous questions about your health, family history and retirement plans in order to make the proper recommendation. Anyone willing to give you "quotes" without asking very many questions should be avoided.
Long-Term Care insurance is custom designed. Plus, every insurance company has its own underwriting criteria. A true Long-Term Care specialist will represent most or all the major companies. They will have a keen understanding of underwriting and policy design. They should have processed many claims, so they have the first-hand knowledge of how these policies get used at the time of claim.
Finally, a real Long-Term Care specialist will not steer you to certain type of policy without spending time speaking with you to determine which type of plan fits your specific situation. Working with a Long-Term Care specialist will allow you to get the accurate information you seek. There are several reference websites for research:
LTC News offers articles and resources: http://www.ltcnews.com
US Department of Health and Human Services: https://longtermcare.acl.gov/
The main concern for most people is they understand caregiving is hard. An older spouse can't be expected to be a caregiver without impact their own health. Adult children and their own families, careers and responsibilities. Paid care is expensive and drains savings and impacts lifestyle.
For many, Long-Term Care Insurance is easy, affordable, rate stable income and asset protection. It reduces the burdens which your aging will have on your family. However, speak with a true specialist. There are not many Long-Term Care specialists with extensive experience, but I help people nationwide and a number of others like myself do as well.
The goal of long-term care (LTC) insurance is to protect the policy owner from footing the entire bill of an extended stay in a healthcare facility, such as a nursing home or rehabilitation center.
Because there's no telling whether you will need long-term care in the future, and the costs can run very high if you do, it's worth your while to learn about your long-term care insurance options and make an informed decision.
It's possible that at some point later in life you may need specialized care. For example, as you get older, your physician may discharge you to a nursing home following a hospitalization for surgery or illness. Fortunately, Medicare will cover qualified stays up to 100 days. Sometimes, however, deteriorating mental or physical health caused by an accident, illness or dementia will lead to an extended stay in a nursing home or ongoing in-home nursing care. When this happens, even families that are in a good financial position may need to balance the expense of long-term care with their other priorities.
While Medicaid will cover long-term care costs after 100 days, this federal program requires individuals to first deplete their personal savings, among other qualifications. For this reason, even individuals who are financially comfortable may want to carefully consider long-term care insurance.
Here are some factors to think about as you consider long-term care insurance:
· Your age and health may affect your eligibility. Purchasing a policy when you're relatively young and healthy may mean more years of payments, but it also helps you lock in a benefit that may not be available when you're older or in the event you experience a health issue. The cost of a policy tends to increase with age, particularly after age 60 when health problems start to become more common. If you have a pre-existing condition, or a family history of one, you may not be eligible to purchase certain policies. Carefully review the fine print to see if any conditions are excluded from coverage.
· Long-term care insurance policies come in many forms-from barebones to all the bells and whistles. Price is only one factor to consider. Compare components of the policies side-by-side to see which plan may make sense for you. Evaluate facilities and programs in your area so that you can match your service expectations with what various policies may cover.
· Most plans are tied to the need for assistance with a pre-determined number of activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, showering and eating. You will pay more if you want a policy that requires fewer concurrent ADLs to trigger benefits.
· Consider nursing home costs in your area to determine whether you want to buy coverage on the higher or lower end of the spectrum. Choose a daily benefit - or the amount of expenses covered each day - you can live with, as you will be expected to make up the difference.
· Most plans have an elimination period, which is the amount of time that must elapse before your insurance covers the bill. This "gap" in benefits ranges from 30 to 180 days. You are responsible for 100 percent of the costs before your benefits begin.
· Inflation protection is a common plan rider that can help offset rising costs of care by increasing your eligible lifetime benefits under the plan. It's worth considering if you can afford the cost of a more generous lifetime limit.
Your financial advisor can help you calculate whether your projected future income and assets can withstand the cost of long-term care if the need arises. If there's any doubt, a long-term care insurance policy may make sense. Together you can review your options and choose a plan that helps you meet your long-term goals for financial security.
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story,". I am sure Mark Twain wasn't thinking about Long-Term Care or today's news media when he said this long ago. Today it is very easy to place a news story for people to consume. Between traditional TV and radio, an expanded 24/7 news cycle with cable news there is a lot of information available. The biggest difference today, like the old days when anyone with a printing press could print anything they like, now you just need a computer to create a news story. It seems almost everyone has a computer or smart phone and they are not afraid to use it.
The topic of Long-Term Care has become a big one with an aging America. By 2030, 1 in 4 Americans will be over the age of 50. By 2050, 1 of every 5 Americans will be 65+ according to data from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It seems like once you get around the age of 50 the conversation about Long-Term Care starts coming up. In today's world that means you hit the internet and see what information you can find. However, some articles are providing misleading or even completely erroneous information on Long-Term Care Insurance.
We have heard the term fake news, but perhaps the best way to define what is being written about Long-Term Care is just "lazy news" or "advocacy news". It seems like everyone with a computer, including myself, has an agenda. How much of this is "truth" is a matter to discuss.
Generally, there is more to a story... and the stuff left out is usually very important. The stories about Long-Term Care insurance premium rate increases are very misleading. They usually leave out many details. The reporters or "professionals" writing these articles often have an agenda to push the public in one direction or another.
The other thing to remember is the internet is also "old news" as nothing on the internet usually gets deleted. You may find and read something that is old but that story may have been updated numerous times since the first story was published making the information you are reading outdated. You must do more due diligence today to see if you are getting accurate information.
Since the issue of planning for the financial costs and burdens of aging is so important to American families you should know the facts. Often the reason the articles talk about premium increases is to scare the consumer. Maybe the writer wants the government to pay for all long-term care (not going to happen as too many people require care and budgets are tight as it is trying to take care of those with little or no savings). Perhaps the writer wants to have the consumer spend large sums of money of certain type of financial product they are selling. The consumer should understand the truth, so they can plan in advance with more peace-of-mind.
These increases that are being reported are primarily on "legacy products" These are older plans that were priced well before the interest rate crash and rate stabilization regulations.
Today, all plans are priced with the very low interest rate environment in mind (interest rates have been low in the United States over the last decade). These older plans which had increases were based on a few factors:
· Interest rates
· Lapse rates (meaning, how many people drop their policies. In practice, very few do, but this was not factored into premium pricing on many older plans)
· Claims and underwriting experience
These policies are paying huge benefits as well. In 2017 over $9.2 billion was paid in benefits to American families protecting assets and easing family burden.
The fact is these older policies were underpriced to start with and even with increases they still have outstanding value and huge benefits. Nobody likes an increase, but you must put that increase in perspective. Many of these people I speak with have huge benefits which have been increasing 5% compounded every year since they had the policy. Many have unlimited lifetime benefits as well. Since they have these huge benefits many can reduce the benefit or inflation factor to keep the premium the same. As their benefits increase far greater compared to the cost of long-term care they remain in an outstanding position.
Today's Long-Term Care insurance policies remain very affordable as people start purchasing plans prior to retirement. Underwriting is more conservative but since consumers are younger most people can still find an appropriate plan.
Experts say that the risks of increases are small but like anything there is always a chance of an approved increase. However, if you read some of the articles being published you would think the industry is dead and consumers no longer have any interest in the product.
The fact is there are still numerous insurance companies marketing Long-Term Care insurance. Consumer interest has never been greater. As I speak to other Long-Term Care Insurance specialists, like myself, we have all noticed a big increase in both consumer awareness and interest. Consumers are younger, more knowledgeable with the risks (often with first-hand experience with an elder parent or other family member) and we are bombarded with requests for information and quotes.
Consumers are seeking help from Long-Term Care specialists as most financial advisors and general insurance agents have limited knowledge and experience with the products, underwriting, policy design, benefit options and the federal/state partnership program which is available in most states. Therefore, some of these professionals push consumers into options they are more comfortable with despite the fact they might not be the best and most affordable way to address the costs and burdens of aging.
Long-Term Care Insurance, despite what you read, is very affordable for most people. With regulation and better pricing consumers enjoy additional peace-of-mind knowing they have a plan they can count on in the decades to come that will remain affordable once they retire and get older.
Many people can obtain outstanding coverage for under $150 a month, some even under $100. Premiums are based on your age at the time to get a plan, your health and the amount of benefits who wish to have. Most of the people I speak with nationwide are from ages 45 to 60.
A true Long-Term Care specialist will ask you numerous questions about your health, family history and retirement plans in order to make the proper recommendation. Anyone willing to give you "quotes" without asking very many questions should be avoided.
Long-Term Care insurance is custom designed. Plus, every insurance company has its own underwriting criteria. A true Long-Term Care specialist will represent most or all the major companies. They will have a keen understanding of underwriting and policy design. They should have processed many claims, so they have the first-hand knowledge of how these policies get used at the time of claim.
Finally, a real Long-Term Care specialist will not steer you to certain type of policy without spending time speaking with you to determine which type of plan fits your specific situation. Working with a Long-Term Care specialist will allow you to get the accurate information you seek. There are several reference websites for research:
LTC News offers articles and resources: http://www.ltcnews.com
US Department of Health and Human Services: https://longtermcare.acl.gov/
The main concern for most people is they understand caregiving is hard. An older spouse can't be expected to be a caregiver without impact their own health. Adult children and their own families, careers and responsibilities. Paid care is expensive and drains savings and impacts lifestyle.
For many, Long-Term Care Insurance is easy, affordable, rate stable income and asset protection. It reduces the burdens which your aging will have on your family. However, speak with a true specialist. There are not many Long-Term Care specialists with extensive experience, but I help people nationwide and a number of others like myself do as well.