Long Term Care Insurance Estate Protection

Many people think Medicare or Medicaid will pay for Long Term Care costs. NOT.
However, Medicare only covers some skilled care in certain situations FOR A LIMITED PERIOD
and can't be counted on as a Long Term Care policy.

To qualify for Medicaid, many people have to spend down their assets to a qualifying amount.
The fact is, a majority of Long Term Care costs fall on the individual to pay. Are you prepared to
cover these expenses?

It's interesting to note that a Male, age 55 can purchase Long Term Care coverage and pay the
premium for 30 years, yet never invest as much as it would cost him, or his family for 90 days of
confinement in a Skilled Nursing Care facility or 24-hour Private Care at home.

Long term care (LTC) insurance is not for everyone. To determine whether it is a good option for
you, consider the following:
· Your current assets. You should probably not buy a long term care policy if paying the
premiums will cause financial hardships or you may have difficulty paying the premiums later in
life. However, if you have assets you wish to preserve for your family, an LTC plan may be for you.
· Your Health. Do you have any health or lifestyle factors (smoking, being overweight, having
high blood pressure) that may put you at risk for needing long term care? Does your family have
a history of chronic health problems?
· Your Life Expectancy. Consider the average age your family members live to be. This
may be a good indication whether you can expect a long life, hence putting you at greater risk for
needing long term care in your lifetime.
· Your Gender. Women are at a greater risk for needing long term care and generally spend
more time in a nursing home than men because of their greater average life expectancy.
Research several companies and plans. Closely compare the benefits, types of coverage,
premiums and limitations and exclusions of each plan you review. Benefits can range from
basic Nursing Home only to more comprehensive, which cover confinement in several types of
facilities. Ask your Agent for an outline of coverage for the policy you intend to purchase. This will
offer you a full explanation of benefits.
Consider the financial stability of the company. Since Long Term Care benefits may not be used
for many years, it is important that you purchase a policy from a company you are sure will be
there when you need it. A company's ratings from industry rating services can be a big indication
of stability and reliability.

Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask your Agent to explain a policy or benefit eligibility to you.
Don't accept vague answers. Ask to see it in writing.

Source: A Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance, 2005.




				*What Are My Options?* Most Companies offer competitively-priced Long Term Care products that include Nursing Home Coverage, Home Health Care and optional Home Health and Community Care protection. Optional Benefit Inflation and Non-forfeiture Benefit Riders can also be selected. Tax-Qualified plans are available in states where approved. Plan Features Include: Choice of Daily Benefit Amount: $30-$200 (in $10 increments) Choice of Benefit Periods: 1 Year (365 days) 2 Years (730 days) 4 Years (1,460 days) Lifetime Choice of Elimination Periods: · 0, 30, 90 or 180 days Other Features & Options: Bed Reservation Extended Reinstatement Period Restoration of Benefits Coverage for Alzheimer's Disease Waiver of Premium Cognitive Impairment Lapse Protection Third Party Premium Notification Guaranteed Renewable Protection Spousal Discount (when selected at time of application with identical coverage) Competitive Rates Choose Individual or Married Rates: (Married rates offer up to 30% discount for both insureds).