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Lisa asked if LTC insurance requires us to use the whole benefit every month or can we use less and stretch the benefit period to pay longer. The answer is "that depends". What kind of plan do you have? What kind of care do you need? Where are you living to receive care? Who will be helping you? Listen and schedule with me See what your state lets you keep
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This week, a client emailed me an article from Moneywise's retirement section that discussed Medicaid estate recovery. Read the article here - The reason we plan is so that Medicaid won't take our house or impoverish our family. This link shows what different states let us keep and still qualify for Medicaid to pay for our care - There are several ways to protect against the risk of needing help living at some point in our lives. Many people think, "I'm healthy. Why would I need long term care assistance?" A lot of times, we don't need help because we're sick. It's because we get old and become more frail. It's hard to imagine we may be frail at some point, but our aging parents used to be stronger and more agile than they are today. Why would we be any different if we live a long life? We need to prepare today for that day when life gets more complicated and difficult for us and for our families. No one really wants to rely on the state for care and be "put" into a Medicaid bed in a nursing home. We want to stay in control throughout our lives. Having a plan that uses some insurance and some savings/income wil help us to maintain that control We are paying for our own care, so we get to decide where that care will be provided. Given a choice, it won't be in a nursing home. And the state won't be involved in out financial plan. Let me help you prepare for your tomorrow today, whle you are yong enough and healthy enough to obtain a LTC plan that meets your unique needs. Schedule
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Manglende episoder?
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I promise I'll start talking numbers and cases again next week. We made it through the storms and things are almost normal in our community. This week, I received a question about me rather than about long term care, and I felt the need to answer. Do I get depressed talking about getting old or getting sick all day long? I've been working as an LTC Specialist for over 20 years, and you would think I am sad every day. Listen and learn why that is not the case, and then schedule time with me so I can help you and your family prepare for your tomorrow.
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I an still catching up after two hurricanes came through Florida this month,m so I am replaying this episode from August 10, 2021. Kristina asks about mistakes people make or things people fail to consider when planning for future long term care needs. There are several, but three stand out to me as I have worked too often with people who looked at options many years ago and are looking again today. Others planned ahead but didn't consider future costs in their strategy. We also need to consider that, the longer we wait, the more likely a chronic health condition may prevent us from purchasing a plan in the future. Listen and learn, and schedule with me at Thank you Kristina, for helping to educate families who want to make wise choices.
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Thank you for all the phone calls and messages asking how we are doing. Our home is fine. No damage and no flooding. We didn't lose power. Lots of branches to clean up, and the last two days we've been putting all the stuff we had to move back where it belongs. I hear generators and chainsaws whenever I am outside, and I feel kind of guilty for not having as much damage and problems as those around us. We are helping others where we can, but Paul just had hernia surgery a few weeks ago. The authorities are asking us to stay put until flooding, electricity and other needs are met. I'll hopefully be back to helping you prepare for tomorrow with Long Term Care guidance next week!.
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Just a quick update. We're ok so far. Hoping for a Cat 3 or less when it hits, likely a little south of us so we'll get a lot of rain. Presuming all goes as well as can be, I'll update you all on Friday.
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This week is tough. Hurricane Helene ripped through the southeast and surprised far too many families. My family is safe, and those we know in the areas hit here in Florida and in the mountains are safe, but many aren't. It will take months and even years to rebuild these areas. This made it difficult for me to talk about preparing for tomorrow when there is so much devastation today. Storms that are created by weather and by dementia hit hard when they hit, and we need to be alert and prepared for both. I can help the people hurt by the storm with prayer. You can prepare to fight against dementia by scheduling time to discuss planning options with me at
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To answer this question, I need to first share why and when LTC insurance companies are required to approve and pay a claim, and then I'll discuss where this can get confusing or messed up. LTC insurance companies are strictly regulated by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 7702(b). If the plans offered will be tax deductible to some individuals and most businesses, and for benefits to be paid tax-free, LTC insurance companies must adhere to the 7702(b) rule. This week, I'm sharing and simplifying definitions within the 7702(b) code. When we understand when companies are required to pay, we'll be better able to use their own vocabulary when talking with the claims departments. If you already own LTC insurance, you should read the policy and review it every couple of years. Have your kids read it, too. And adult children should read and review their parents' policies. If you would like help reviewing your plan, ask. I'll be glad to to review it with you. If you don't own LTC insurance, it's time to schedule with me at start designing a customized plan to meet your specific wants and needs. Schedule at
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Today, I want to discuss the financial risk we're facing when planning for LTC needs in 20 or 30 years or more. Home care costs increased on average 10% nationwide from 2022-2023. Assisted Living costs increased 5% on average over that same time. It's not going to get cheaper to get the care we need to get through each day. This information comes from Falls are a big reason people start to need help and support per HelpGuide.org Caregiving is expensive, financially, physically, emotionally. We can't be expected to do this alone, without help. If we reach age 65, greater than 50% of us are going to need some form of extended care services. Thankfully, most of us won't be in a nursing home. But we need a plan to be able to stay home and receive care. We need to plan to pay well over $20,000/month for care needs in 30 years. Listen to this week's episode of costs of care and schedule with me to design your plan at
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Yes, a colleague of mine is selling all of her uncle's belongings because he was "put into aged care". Those who plan know where they want to be when a long term care event enters the picture. And they have the income, savings and LTC insurance to support their plan. Most stay home with help for most to the need and move to assisted living if care needs increase. Most don't ever live in a nursing home, and they surely don't get "put" somewhere. People without a plan put their whole family in a crisis mode adter a severe stroke or when Alzheimer's or other dementia shows up. The three questions we need to ask are: 1) Where do I want to be when needing help to et through each day? 2) Who do I want to have there with me? 3) How will I pay for this? Needing LTC services is expensive. Home care easily costs near $40/hour today, and assisted living $4-8000/month. Costs of care are increasing by about 5% annually. Schedule some time with me to protect your family when life doesn;t go as planned
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On Sunday, Suze Orman discussed the finally finalized rules for inherited IRA's. Listen here: Today, I'm going to share a case study to share what one of our clients did with some of the IRA funds she inherited from her mom. Some of you know that "non-eligible" beneficiaries of IRA funds are required to withdraw all tne money in the IRA within 10 years and pay taxes on those withdrawals. If you don't know, listen to Suze's podcast episode from Sunday, September 3, 2024 with the above link. Nicole used $17,000 a year of the $45,000 she is required to withdraw annually over 10 years to create a paid-up long term care plan that will pay more than the entire inheritance she received ($450,000 IRA and $450,000 non-IRA funds). Listen and learn how we accomplished this. Nicole's mom left her a nice inheritance with an unforseen tax burden. We repositioned that tax burden to create tax-free LTC benefits for her or a tax-free death benefit for her kids. Schedule with me to learn how you can reposition yout tax-burden at
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The two most common reasons people tell me they're looking into LTC insurance are: 1) They don't want to bankrupt their spouse emotionally, physically or financially, and 2) they don't want to burden their children with the responsibility to care for them or to have to pay for their care. Many who say this are caring for a parent who hadn't planned. Many of us in our 50s and 60s don't think we'll ever need care, even though we are providing for our parents. Why do we deny that we could end up needing help as much as they do today. The best gift an older parent can give to their adult children can be a funded LTC plan for the adult children. This way, the granchildren won't be facing the same caregiving issues the kids have while caring for the elderly parents now. Parents who are trying to leave an inheritance for their kids can use a small portion of their savings to obtain a very substantial LTC plan for the kids. This can lessen the burdens of hte next generation. Schedule with me to learn how
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Tom shared that there is dementia in his wife's family but not in his. He wants a policy for her but doesn't think he'll need one. My mom's husband said the same thing several years ago, and now he has dementia, at age 68. She's going to be upset that I am sharing this, but it's so important to consider how your decisions affect your family. You may never need long term care services, but what if you do? Who is going to have to step up and change their lives to help you and for how long? Who is going to decide where you're going to have to live? Who is going to have to sell all your stuff to qualify you for Medicaid? Who is going to sacrifice their future to keep you out of a Medicaid nursing home? All because you never thought you woudl need help someday... There are plans that pay your family back if care is never needed, so why not use some of your money to protect the rest while you're protecting your family from being forced to choose between multiple bad options to meet your needs? Schedule with me to start designing your plan at
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This week, we're talking about health qualifying for LTC benefits. What to do... What not to do... LTC planning is all about timing. If you apply at the wrong time or with the wrong company, you could be declined for something that would have been approved had we waited for the right time or company. We don't want to make this mistake. It takes a lot longer to overturn a decline than it does to wait until the best time to apply for a more likely approval. LTC underwriters really are nice people. Their job is to find reasons someone would be too much risk to the company's other clients. My goal is to know where and when you are most likely to be approved. If you have a health concern and wonder if it is an acceptable risk to getting LTC coverage, ask me for help. The insurance companies are not a part of our conversation until we invite them in with an application. Schedule at
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Too often, people contact me when it's too late to access all their LTC planning options. Some people believe they are planning ahead at age 80. Some people wait to inquire until after a diagnosis either limits their options or makes them altogether uninsurable. The earlier we plan, the more choices we have, AND the more benefits we can obtain for the least amout of premium. Business owners can deduct LTC premiums, so it's helpful to pay for the plans while you still own the business, to get additional tax write offs. C corporations can deduct 100% of LTC premiums without a cap. LLCs and S Corps have a maximum they can deduct. The 2024 caps are below. These are per person Age 40 or less $470 Age 41-50 $880 Age 51-60 $1760 Age 61-70 $4710 Age 71+ $5880 Schedule with me to learn more
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This week, my husband, Paul, asks me multiple questions that we get quite often. I'm guessing you've asked at least one of these questions if you've been considering LTC insurance to protect your family from an extended care need. Please email me additional questions you may have, and I'll be glad to answer you. I may even use your question for a future episode. In fact, I challenge you to ask me a question I've never heard before. Schedule time to strart designing your plan at
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There are many professionals from whom you can purchase LTC insurance, but an LTC Planning Specialist is going to have the most knowledge and training about all the options that can be available based on unique needs of each person or family. This week I'm sharing what to watch out for when you work with different kinds of professionals. I'm not saying that every representative who does not specialize in LTC will not do a good job. I'm sharing things to watch out for because this is one of the most important decisions you'll make regarding your family's future. You need to be sure you are protecting those you love and your life savings using the most appropriate method to meet your needs. LTC Planning Specialists are not afraid to ask the hard questions that need to be asked to do the job right. LTC Planning Specialists will wait for the best opportunities for you to be approved. Schedule with me to learn how you can protect your family, savings and choices at a time when you may be the most vulnerable. email me at to ask a question
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Several people are asking if they can use their life insurance policies for long term care needs. Some newer life insurance plans include a chronic illness rider that let's you use the dealth benefit while still alive and needing help living through your day. Those plans don't consider that needing care wil cost much more in the future, however. Older life insurance policies generally don't allow early use for LTC needs. You can exchange those plans for a plan that wil pay for LTC. Some of the LTC plans will also pay a death benefit if care is not needed. Listen and learn what Rob & Judy are considering with their old life insurance policies by using the IRS 1035 exchange rule to reposition their plan feom a death benefit only to a death and LTC benefit. If you own life insurance with cash value built up, you can use that cash value to create an LTC plan wil little or no premiums. Schedule with me to learn how
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Teresa wants to know what happens to any LTC benefit money she doesn't use. There are plans that pay your family back if no care or little care is needed, but that's not why we buy insurance. Insurance by definition is a guarantee against the risk of loss or harm. We buy insurance in caswe we need it. Any help our family gets will more than likely be accepted with gratitude. Without outside help, caring for someone is a full-time job in itself. Then we need to take into account all the other stuff that needs to be managed. The most common thing I see is that people don't open their claim early enough. As people age, they try so hard to prove they don't need help. They don't see that if they use their benefits, they are giving so much back to their family. Whether you own LTC insurance or not, you need to have a plan. And you need to share your plan with your family so they know what you would like to have happen when extended care is needed. Email me for a planning guide you can use to start the conversation - Schedule an introductory meeting with me at
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Alicia's insurance agent told her she was too short for her weight and no LTC insurance can be offered to her. Turns out that agent only represented one company. Other companies will consider her build (height/weight). Many people are either very small or very big. There are alternative solutions to planning for future care needs that can help those outside of the weight limits of most companies. Some companies don't ask about build or health at all, while some have more lenient health requirements than others. If you've been told you can't qualify for LTC insurance, it is wise to ask for a second opinion. Reach out to me to ask what else can be offered to help you protect your family, assets and choices https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min
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