long-term care Archives - Page 4 of 12 - Long Term Care Insurance Expert | Honey Leveen

Happy Long-Term Care Awareness Month!

November 2, 2016 by Honey Leave a Comment

November is National Long-Term Care Awareness Month (LTCAM). The US Congress created LTCAM so that people would learn more about how hight long term care insurance costs can be.

LTCAM is well recognized by a number of Governors, including Rick Perry and George W. Bush. Houston’s own Mayors Bill White and Annise Parker have issued LTCAM proclamations.

Local, state and national governments recognize how unprepared citizens are. When it comes to being able to afford often catastrophically expensive long-term care (LTC) costs, many of us are unprepared. Our government will not be able to adequately bear the costs of providing LTC. Long term care insurance costs are often a fraction of actual long term care costs.

Does Medicare pay for long-term care? No! Not type of care most Americans need. When long term care lasts for more than a short time, costs can be catastrophic. How much does long term care cost? Visit the Cost of Care Calculator at www.Genworth.com to find out.

The purpose of LTCAM is to raise awareness of the need to plan responsibly for LTC, right now! This is the very best way to ensure dignity, options, access and choices if LTC is necessary.

Unfortunately, the odds of needing LTC are high. You protect against other risks, like a car accident or house fire. The need for LTC is more likely than a house fire or car accident. LTC often costs more than a car or a house. If you’re not prepared, a lengthy LTC need puts your savings and retirement, and family at risk.

Just as it is smart to plan ahead for retirement, it’s smart to plan now for long-term care.

Please check the Resources page of my site for comprehensive, reputable information on LTC.

If you haven’t yet planned for your LTC, I urge you to do so.

You are Not as Financially Smart as You Think You Are

August 9, 2016 by Honey Leave a Comment

The name of the New York Times article is “What You Think You Know About Money, but Don’t, Can Hurt You”. I prefer to be more blunt: You are not as financially smart as you think you are.

The Finra Investment Foundation does a long-term, ongoing study on the public’s financial literacy. The 2016 study has just been released.

People are far more financially vulnerable than they believe they are. Fewer people got the answers the same five questions correct this year; this is a continued trend. Conversely, 76% of subjects gave themselves a “very high” rating on financial knowledge. This percentage continues to increase.

I have no idea whether these trends correlate to increasing income inequality, decreasing educational levels or overall hard times.

This behavior correlates well with the denial I’ve faced for over 25 years. When I ask people with good jobs and lots to lose, who know me, who like me, who recognize my competence, ethics and sincerity, whether they’ll have a conversation with me about long-term care planning odds and options, my invitation is usually declined.

The Finra study proves to me that we are going to have millions upon millions of people who need long-term care and are woefully unprepared for it. Because of this, many people will suffer unnecessary loss of dignity, family discord and sacrifice, and financial ruin.

One in Five Nursing Home Residents Report Abuse

June 20, 2016 by Honey Leave a Comment

A new study reports one in five – or about 20% of nursing home residents – have experienced at least one resident-to-resident abusive event.

This is a conundrum brought about by abysmally low pay to nursing home caregivers, and by Medicaid reimbursement rates so low it is difficult for nursing homes to stay in the black. The majority of nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid.

Here’s a blog I wrote showing nursing home workers are quitting to work at McDonald’s, where they get paid more and don’t have to mess with bedpans or possible back injuries.

The article mentions the double homicide at a nursing home not far from here. Here is a series of blogs I did about this event.

If you want to greatly increase the odds you will not wind up in a nursing home, you need to own long-term care insurance (LTCi). Most LTCi policyholders are able to remain at home or move to an assisted living facility, instead of a nursing home. The evidence is in a recent AHIP study sited here; ask and I will email the complete study to you.

Late in Life Decisions Are Often Impaired

June 6, 2016 by Honey Leave a Comment

Sumner Redstone, center, at a 2012 charity event with, from left, Manuela Herzer and Sydney Holland, both ex-lovers who have figured in a battle over his care. Credit Brian to/WireImage

In what may be an “extreme example of the high stakes and chaos that can result, the Redstone pattern is happening in epidemic proportions,” reports a June 2 New York Times (NYT) article.

This article dovetails beautifully with my recent blog on the evidence proving why loss of cognitive speed, verve, and financial literacy is a normal part of aging.

Feuds between 93 year-year-old billionaire Sumner Redstone and his former mistress, estranged daughter, and former heir apparent have been graphically, publicly aired for the past few months.

The NYT article goes on to state that familial feuds like Mr. Redstone’s are becoming more prevalent due to Alzheimer’s and longer lifespans. The elderly are especially susceptible.

The article states that similar situations can often be averted by proper legal planning, with more explicit trust language. In addition, everyone should have and share extremely explicit personal, financial and medical directives, and of course, own long-term care insurance (LTCi).

Honey’s State of the LTCi Industry

March 21, 2016 by Honey Leave a Comment

I’ve just returned from the Society of Actuaries 16th annual Intercompany Long-Term Care Insurance Conference a few days ago.

I believe most attendees left the conference feeling more enthused about the future of long-term care insurance (LTCi) than we have in a while.

New carriers are entering the market. I got to preview National Guardian Life’s new LTCi policy, due for release this Spring. I am told its rates will be competitive and it will have some “sweet spots.” It’s an exciting plan and has some innovative, very attractive “spins” on traditional features.

Additional new products are entering the market, too!

My sentiment, and I believe that of the majority of attendees, is that the worst is over. Interest rate assumptions can’t be lower. Lapse rates, mortality and morbidity (how many policyholders will die or need LTC) have already been adjusted for “worst case,” hyper-conservative scenarios.

Long-term studies based on extensive experience & appropriate adjustments have convinced actuaries that the current generation of LTCi products are and will be very rate-stable.

The new, asset-based (also called “hybrid” or “combo”) LTC products are now mature, excellent products.

We now have a broader portfolio of rate-stable LTC solutions, reasonably priced, than ever before.

The press, this past year, has done excellent reporting on why Medicare and Medicaid cannot and will not pay for our LTC. Media has reported well on the high odds of needing LTC and the heartbreak patients and families often suffer due to unplanned LTC needs.

Demographically, there remains a huge, underserved market of Boomers and others who are unprepared and vulnerable to the “spending shock” of having an unplanned LTC need.

Some things have not changed in the 25+ years I’ve been working with LTCi. The public is still steeped in profound denial about their need for LTC. People would rather pay for fun things like travel and other toys than face the facts about needing LTC. There are still misinformed journalists who describe LTCi coverage erroneously, and inaccurately harp on wanton LTC rate hikes.

Happy Long-Term Care Awareness Month!

You are Not as Financially Smart as You Think You Are

One in Five Nursing Home Residents Report Abuse

Late in Life Decisions Are Often Impaired

Honey’s State of the LTCi Industry

From My Blog

Podcast Illuminates LTC Need

LTCI is Magical at Time of Need!

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