I celebrated my birthday last month. Not a significant one by any means, but still a nice chance for some reflection and retrospection. In two years I have a big birthday. You know, one of those decade milestones. I find myself wanting to create a bucket list, something to lead up to the event, and then a reason to celebrate. Which got me thinking maybe I should create a new list every decade, always have some new adventure on the horizon, something to work towards, yet attainable. I believe creating a bucket list can improve your life and your retirement. Continue reading
How does long-term care insurance work with health insurance?
Today is the first day of spring. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming. It’s a beautiful time of year… to think about long-term care (LTC) planning! Some of you may be wondering, “Does my health insurance pay for my LTC needs?” Or, “Does my long-term care insurance (LTCI) pay for my medical needs?” The short answer is, unfortunately, not necessarily. Both insurances are important, but they cover very different things. Continue reading
Spotlight: Choosing a Long-Term Care Insurance Carrier
One of the best things about working with an LTC Consumer specialist is that they can offer so many options for your long-term care insurance (LTCI) needs. Our specialists aren’t tied down to one carrier. They listen to your story – your needs, your wishes, your health, your family structure – and find the right carrier for your situation.
Washington State Considering Publicly Funded Long-Term Care Insurance
Washington may soon be the first state to have a long-term care insurance (LTCI) program that is publicly funded. A measure, called the Long-Term Care Trust Act, is waiting to be approved by the Senate and would be funded through a payroll tax. If this passes Washingtonians who were vested and needed help with three activities of daily living such as eating, dressing and toileting, would be eligible for $36,500 of benefits, $100 a day. The program would begin in 2022. Continue reading
HSA Account Can Pay for Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums
By now you’ve probably heard that 15 million Americans are expected to need long-term care (LTC) by 2050 and 52% of people over the age of 65 will need LTC in their lifetime. Maybe you’ve considered talking to your financial advisor or someone who specializes in long-term care insurance (LTCI). Perhaps you’re still concerned about the cost of an LTCI policy dipping into your budget. Did you know that you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for LTCI premiums? Continue reading
$10.3 Billion in Long-Term Care Insurance Claims Paid in 2018
With the vast amount of online resources and information available, today’s consumers want to make sure they are getting the best value for their money. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance’s (AALTCI) annual claims report, many long-term care insurance (LTCI) policy holders are most definitely getting their money’s worth when they go on claim. Continue reading
Infographic: LTC Usage by the Numbers 2019
How many people actually require long-term care (LTC)? For how long? LTC Consumer’s latest infographic shows the staggering numbers and odds. Find out who needs LTC, how long people require LTC services, and what to do next to protect yourself and your loved ones in the case of an LTC event. Continue reading
10 Questions to Ask Before purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance
No one likes to think about getting older and experiencing any sort of health issues. However, life happens, and if we create a plan things can go a little easier. Asking yourself these ten questions can help you determine if long-term care insurance (LTCI) is a product that’s right for you and your loved ones. Continue reading
How Netflix’s Marie Kondo makes Aging and Transitioning Easier
A few weeks ago my family was helping Grandma H move from a house into an assisted living facility. I was in the basement and spotted a few shoe boxes of unorganized photos and naively offered to help Grandma put them in albums. She replied, “Oh honey, that would be great, why don’t you just take all the photos and put them in albums for the girls?” My mom is one of three daughters. I said that sounded fun, snagged the boxes, and loaded them into my car. By the time I walked back to the house my mom, aunt and cousin had each found several larger, dirtier boxes of even more photos. My entire car was full to the ceiling by the time I headed home. Continue reading
LTC Policy Features: What Is Contingent Nonforfeiture?
Insurance policy features and terms can sometimes be confusing and difficult to understand. One of the commonly confused Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) policy terms is contingent nonforfeiture. Especially when you hear two versions of nonforfeiture: contingent nonforfeiture and a nonforfeiture rider.
First, we’ll explain what contingent nonforfeiture is and how it benefits policyholders. Then, we’ll discuss what makes the nonforfeiture rider different.
