Process
Risk vs. Consequences
It would be so much easier if we could peer in to the future. But we can't. We don't know our personal risk of needing extended care, but we must be realistic about the consequences of needing that care. Where will the money come from? How will the burden of caregiving affect your loved ones? Insurance can ease the financial burden as well as the physical and emotional stress on your family. It is critical to look in to insurance when you are relatively young and healthy as the premiums will be less. Also, not everyone can even qualify for coverage based on health, so don't procrastinate. Your health may change and preclude you from getting the coverage you want. 55 is the average age to apply for long term care insurance.
James came to me frustrated. He knew he should make a plan for the high costs of extended care since he didn't want to have to pay solely out of pocket, but was unhappy with the possibility of paying premiums and never receiving benefits. Single with no children, he wasn't worried about take care care of family, but he did want to make a good business decision and he hoped to leave his entire estate to his favorite charity. He also swore that he would never go to a dreaded nursing home. I let him know right away that there were many insurance options for paying for care, and they would all allow him to stay at home or go to an assisted living facility, thereby completely avoiding nursing homes if he didn't need that type of skilled care. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and leaned forward.
--------------------
Every person is unique. My job is to explain the pros and cons of a variety of long term care insurance products and options specifically designed to cover long term care costs and, if appropriate, guide my clients through the underwriting process and beyond.
Below are some basic differences between Traditional and Hybrid products:
