Friday, April 27, 2012

Why Women Need Long Term Care Insurance


Most women, especially wives and mothers, are so busy attending to the needs of their loved ones that they don’t seem to have time to look at their own needs particularly in the aspect of health care.  This is the reason long term care insurance for women is constantly being pushed by the government and long term care (LTC) specialists. They encourage women to prepare for their future by comparing long term care quote and then purchase a policy perfect for their needs.

Only a fraction of the female population has managed to secure long term care insurance (LTCI) policies because the rest of them think that their Social Security and Medicare contributions will be enough to cover their LTC expenses.  Unfortunately, Social Security only gives a meager monthly allowance while Medicare does not provide LTC coverage except to senior folks 65 and older that require medical care in a nursing home. 

Experts on the field of LTC say nursing homes, assisted living facilities, continuing-care retirement communities, and in-home care among other LTC settings will be highly in demand among elderly women beginning 2030 when the youngest of the baby boomer generation turns 65.  There shall be male recipients of LTC, too, but women are predicted to outnumber them.  Given this fact, every woman who is currently engrossed in her profession and numerous responsibilities at home should take time to sit down and assess her personal needs. 

Today’s cost of care is not going to be the same 20 years from now so women who are currently active in the corporate world and bringing home an annual income of $80,000 should not be too confident of the future.  According to a study which was performed by financial advisers, the cost of care will increase fourfold 18 years from now.  When that time comes, a home health care agency in your place that provides a home health aide for an hourly rate of $19 will raise this double digit to $76 per hour which translates to $173,888 annually.

Without a definite plan for their future health care, anyone’s mother, daughter, sister, and wife will be at risk of mediocre to low quality LTC services.  Spare them from this fate by encouraging them to plan their future.   

Help Them Acquire Long Term Care Insurance for Women

Women are nurturers by nature because they want to ensure that the ones they love remain safe, healthy and happy.  However, it is not logical to satisfy the needs of others in exchange of neglecting their own.

It is never wrong to express love, concern and compassion to family members and friends but every woman should bear in mind that no one stays young and strong forever.  Soon her hair will turn gray and her body will be too weak to perform the most basic activities of daily living like eating, bathing, dressing, and toileting among others. 

While she can still take care of herself and be superwoman, encourage the woman in your life to look into long term care insurance for women as this product will protect her from poor quality LTC and financial losses.  You’ll do this if she is important in your life.     

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Differentiating Long Term Care Insurance From Your Health Insurance

When you’re out shopping for a long term care quote there are actually for major components that you need to look into as these would play a vital role in your coverage.

One of them is the maximum daily benefit amount which pertains to how much your policy is going to pay out to you should you qualify for LTC.  To determine the amount of benefits that would need you have to be familiar with the cost of care in your area.  For example, the average daily cost of LTC in your place is $185 so it is just logical to consider a policy which would pay out a daily benefit amount of $200.  Meanwhile, if you plan to retire in another state where the cost of care is higher you should go for a higher benefit amount to avoid being underinsured.

Another factor to consider when buying a policy is the maximum benefit period.  This is the length of period that you will receive benefits from your LTCI policy.  According to LTC experts, most elderly folks in a nursing home would require three years of care, on average, before they are moved to home-based care.  Others with serious health conditions, however, would stay up to 10 years.  It is necessary to identify the level of care that you will likely need in the future before you can determine your policy’s benefit period.     

The elimination period is another element which should be studied carefully.  This refers to the length of time that you will pay for care using your personal resources.  Take note that you need to satisfy this otherwise you won’t be able to receive your benefits. 

Lastly, there’s the inflation protection which you should not take for granted as this rider ensures that your benefits keep pace with inflation. 

For further information on long term care insurance policy options, contact a licensed broker in your area who represents top LTCI carriers.