Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

Our own Managing Partner, Katie O’ Rourke, was featured as an expert guest on the Essential Boomer. Katie is an honorary boomer and as we all know, a 30 year veteran of the insurance industry and Managing Partner of California Long Term Care insurance Services. In this podcast, Katie shared the benefit of her expertise in long-term care insurance as she provided frank and insightful answers to the following questions:

• What is Long Term Care?
• Where is Long Term Care typically provided?
• What are the odds of me needing long-term care?
• What does long term care cost?
• Wouldn’t a lot of families be able to provide the necessary resources?
• Don’t Medicare and health insurance provide some kind of coverage for long-term care?
• When is the best time to investigate long-term care insurance?
• What is the qualification process for Long Term Care insurance
• If somebody has a pre-existing condition, are they still able to obtain long-term care insurance?
• How do the plans work and what’s the cost?
• What are the different flavors of long-term care insurance?
• What should I look for in a policy?
• Are there any tax breaks with long-term care insurance?
• Can I get a plan at work?

This podcast (http://essentialboomer.guide/katie/ ) might save you or your family a lot of money and heartache!

Listen to this very informative podecast and then contact us with any further questions you may have. We are here for you!

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

There are two main reason why so many people that are planning for their retirement years tend to ignore the need for purchasing Long Term Care Insurance. One is lack of education and the other is denial of their likely need for care.

Some facts and figures from the insurance industry and the Department of Health and Human Services can help people find out if long term care insurance is worth it and the right time to learn about options:

• 79% of the people purchasing Long Term Care policies are between ages 45-64
• 99% of buyers keep their policy for the rest of their life
• 49% of people receiving long-term care do so in their own homes
• Another 24% get funds for Assisted Living Facilities
• Each year the percent receiving insurance funds for home care services increases
• Only 9% of baby boomers have planned for their Long Term Care needs
• 70% of those over the age of 65 will need long term care in their lifetime
• 71% of the benefits are paid to females
• 67% of unpaid caregivers are female
• 67% of the people who plan to have a loved one provide care have not ask the loved one to take care of them when the need arises
• The number of Americans 65 or older will double over the next 35 years

The most eye opening long-term care statistic we found is the fact that 70% of people age 65 and older will need some form of long-term care services, either in their homes, in an assisted living facility, or in an acute care facility.

So if you are asking is long-term care insurance worth it… you need to consider if you will be part of the 30% who get lucky enough with their health and genetics to not require the $2,000 to $8,000+ per month in medical expenses the other 70% find they will need.

Most people do not realize how many options they actually have available to them when it comes to long-term care insurance planning. That is why when they get the facts, as the statistics prove, 99% of buyers do keep their policies for life.

You can get the facts today with no cost and no obligation and find out if long-term care insurance is worth it to you, your family, and your future.

Contact us directly and let us help you get the facts.

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

Long Term Care Facts Don’t Lie … Could This One Mistake Cost You Your Retirement Savings?

You’ve worked hard all your life and now it is time to retire. You’ve got your expenses figured out and it looks like you can finally stop working and live off interest, savings, social security, and maybe even a pension. You might even choose to work a fun part time job to stay in the mix and enjoy life a bit.

Then it happens… An unforeseen health event takes place like cancer, stroke, heart disease, or some other debilitating event.

 Luckily, you got insurance to help cover most of the medical bills, but you find out it will not be enough because this event is going to require a long-term care treatment plan that normal insurance or Medicare does not cover.

 And when 70% of those over the age of 65 will need long term care in their lifetime, you wonder why you didn’t take care of this sooner. Sure, you’ve probably heard the concept of long term care insurance, but like most other people you didn’t believe you would need it, or you simply didn’t get the right information about it.

 Did you know that 79% of the people purchasing Long Term Care policies are between ages 45-64, but only 9% of baby boomers have planned for their Long Term Care needs? When someone is unprepared for the time, cost, and emotional commitment required of family to have to take care of you, retirement doesn’t look as fun as you thought.

 And because only 9% of boomers even planned for this, 67% of the people who plan to have a loved one provide care have not asked the loved one to take care of them when the need arises. This is going to create stress among the family no matter what because most long-term care events are not a quick 30-day recovery period, they can last for 5 to 10 years, or longer in some cases. And, when long term care costs can run between $2,000 to $8,000+ per month, this can wipe out most retirement accounts efficiently.

 We know the thought of having to buy another insurance policy does not sound like a fun thing to do. But, you have so many options you may not even be aware of right now. For example, if you are in the 30% of people that enjoy health during retirement, you might be eligible for a return of premium plan where if you do not use it, you get your money back.

 Regardless of return of premium options, the fact is 99% of buyers keep their policy for the rest of their life because they know the peace of mind it provides when the unexpected happens.

 We know you want to have a fulfilling retirement full of joy and love, we also know that you do not want to become a burden or cause any strain on those that care about you most.

 That is why you can get all the facts about long-term care today when you speak to our highly trained staff and learn about what options are available to you now.

 Contact us today and get the facts about long-term care planning for retirement and you.

Katie O’ Rourke
Managing Partner

What if I buy a long term care insurance policy, pay them premiums for 10, 15. 20 years and never use it? Does that mean I lose money? One of the things that makes people hesitate to purchase Long Term Care (LTC) insurance is the possibility that they may never need to use it.  This is really more of a hope since 70% of us will need care during our lives.

This is very valid concern, and many people feel the same way. What most people find though is that when a catastrophic claim happens, they think less about the few dollars they saved switching carriers and more about if they have the best policy that is going to cover their losses and get them even again. Insurance professionals know that the only time their clients are not worried about insurance premiums is when they call in with a claim and need help.

 Have you ever taken an insurance inventory? Think about all the policies you have right now… do you own a car and have car insurance? How about a home with homeowners insurance? Do you have life insurance through work or a private policy on someone you love? Do you carry health insurance, maybe dental and vision coverage?

 If insurance is so expensive and we worry about the “what if” we never use it, then why buy insurance at all? If you look at the entire business of insurance, it is based on losses and insuring against the “what-ifs” that most people prefer to not think about. Insurance companies understand this, and so to make it easier, they have developed policies that protect their clients, and give them relief should they never actually use certain policies.

 Frankly, I hope that planning for long-term care means I will not need it. (I also hope I do not need to use my homeowners, auto and health insurance.)  There are few ways to solve this problem.  One is to get coverage that includes a Return of Premium feature.  If you never need to use the policy then the premiums are returned to your estate or beneficiary. 

 Another option is to move the cash value of an existing Life insurance or Annuity into a policy that includes LTC coverage.  This repositioning of the value can provide coverage at no cost.  A final thought is to purchase a Life insurance or annuity plan with an LTC rider.  Then you get the money no matter what happens between now and then.  There are many ways to plan for the worst and hope for the best. 

 Some of these policies can be complex and confusing, and that is why agents specialize in certain types of insurance, attend on-going education each year to stay on top of laws, policy changes, and regulatory matters. When you want to buy an insurance policy that will not only cover you in the event of a loss, but also give you your money back should you never use it, you ought to speak to a licensed and qualified professional who specializes in this coverage. You wouldn’t go to a brain doctor for heart surgery right?

 That is why we screen all of our agents based on their commitment to the industry, industry training credentials, and areas of expertise. When you speak to one of our agents today about a Return of Premium policy, or Rider based product, you are going to know you have the most qualified person to help answer your unique questions, and provide you with the best options to choose from.

 Go ahead and get in touch with our specialists today, simply enter your details on the right hand side and we look forward to speaking to you shortly to give you the information you need.

When people reach their fifties, they typically begin to consider estate planning. One of the main elements which needs to be taken into account during this planning, is the living will. It is a vital part that gives you and your family peace of mind for whatever circumstances may happen. The living will is not something that will be necessarily easy for yourself or your family, since it confronts you with your own mortality. However, it is essential in order to have your wishes carried out on your behalf and to have your care covered financially. 

What is a Living Will?

If something should happen to you, it is essential that your relatives are informed about your wishes. This is what a living will is for; it displays your wishes regarding prolonging medical treatments. It informs your relatives, but also healthcare workers, if you are no longer capable of conveying your wishes.

A living will is usually supported by two physicians, declaring their support when you are suffering from a terminal illness or permanent vegetative state. It is also a document that can give someone power of attorney when you are no longer capable of making decisions about your current quality of life and medical treatments. This might be a difficult conversation with the person you will be entrusting this to, but again, it is essential to ensure the comfort and peace of mind for your family and loved ones. Even though it is a difficult thing to discuss, you must make sure that someone is aware of your living will. If nobody knows, it will be of no use when something happens to you. Once you write your living will, you need to ensure it is financially covered.

What is Long Term Care Insurance and the benefits?

Long Term Care Insurance will cover medical costs, and even home care, something most medical insurance plans do not cover. When you encounter serious medical costs at a point later in life, it might eat up your entire pension and even your savings. So why not prepare yourself for these types of scenarios? Make sure you are covered, but also make sure your family is protected by choosing a long term care insurance plan.

Role of Long term care insurance in estate planning

We cannot predict what will happen in our lives. We could become gravely ill and encounter serious medical costs. We could even be in need of a live-in health professional. Although these are things we do not like to think about, we want to be prepared if the worst does happen.

The long term care insurance helps to pay for assisted living, nursing facilities or even physiotherapy if you have been injured in a serious accident. It also covers illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. You won’t have to worry about paying for a care worker that will help you or a relative bath, dress and even eat. The long term care insurance plan will be there in your time of need and not take away the hard earned money that you have been saving for years. Including long term insurance in your living will, as a means of covering potential costs for you and your family in the future, is a key piece to the estate planning puzzle.

To speak to a representative or schedule an appointment, simply fill out the form to the right to contact us.

Jim Grauel
VP of Sales & Marketing

News flash!  

California Long Term Care plans cost more today than they did 20 years ago! While it is true that the cost of LTCi insurance has gone up in recent years, see all the press releases, so has the cost of care. Cost is relative to everything, remember what you were paying for medical coverage in 1994? How about a gallon of gas? Now, think about your income in 1994 and today. Everything is relative right?  This doesn’t negate the need to plan ahead and prepare for something that will affect 7 out of 10 Americans.

The interesting thing about the 7 out of 10 is that it doesn’t differentiate between economic classes. The need doesn’t change for someone earning $50,000 annually or someone earning  $150,000 annually. Loss of your ADL’s or cognitive issues could care less about your income. Having the funds available to pay for care is a necessity not a luxury. Not having a plan is a plan, just not a good one. Cost of care will continue to rise forcing you to spend more to get quality care. You can pay that difference yourself or get some help from an insurance carrier to pick up the majority of the bill. Choosing to work with an insurance carrier will definitely help lower your California Long Term Care plans cost.

Designing a personalized plan to protect your family and assets doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice today. With medical advances and the odds being in your favor of living longer and needing care it is important to protect as much as you can. A good friend of mine has been known to say that people live on budgets all the time; why would that change if you were in need of care? The question is would $2,000 or $3,000 make a difference in the care you received? So no matter what your income, the risk remains the same, now is the time to look through the different your options for California Long Term Care plans. Cost will vary but you can  put together a plan so when the need arises you have the ability to receive care and protect your family.

To speak to a representative or schedule an appointment, simply fill out and submit the short form to the right.

It is often hard for consumers to see the benefits of purchasing Long Term Care Insurance.  They also often overlook the value in working with an agent and an agency that specializes in LTC.  Our work as an agency definitely does not end with our client’s initial decision in purchasing Long Term Care Insurance. Two recent real-life experiences illustrated why a specialist agent and agency can make a difference:

•  A client called and said he needed to use the policy for nursing home care.  He said he had used home care services for the past 6 months.  His health had deteriorated and he felt a facility was a better fit for him now.  I asked why he didn’t use the coverage for the home care help.  He thought it wasn’t covered because he had hired a private caregiver.  He mistakenly believed that only aides from a home care agency qualified for reimbursement.  He was able to get all of the long term care services covered.  He moved to an assisted living facility and his wife lives in the independent living unit nearby. 
• A client called and asked to review her coverage.  During the conversation she said she thought she may need to use the insurance sometime in the future.  She described her circumstances and I realized that she might qualify use the insurance now.  I convinced her to file a claim. This activated the Care Coordination service.   They helped her find caregivers and put together a plan of care.  The plan of care outlines the details of needs and how they are met by the aide and various community services like Meals on Wheels.  Her care is covered by the insurance policy. 

We at California Long Term Care Insurance Services, Inc have been working with these types of policies for over 20 years. An agent or agency that does not have as much exposure to Long Term Care insurance plans may not have realized the opportunity to help the client use the insurance.  In both these cases we helped protect our clients’ income and assets but also improved the quality of their lives. We helped make their decision of purchasing Long Term Care Insurance a great tool in improving their quality of life when they most needed it.

Our LTCI specialists make your shopping experience easy, by helping compare the costs and benefits of policies from select insurance companies. More importantly, our agency will be there for you beyond purchasing Long Term Care Insurance. To speak to a representative or schedule an appointment, simply fill out the short form on the right and start with your Free consumer guide or contact us.