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Long-Term Care
Buying Long-Term Care
by Clark L. Balberg, CLU, ChFC
Contributing Editor to WealthEffect.com |
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Stick with quality |
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Consider the impact of inflation |
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Who needs long-term care? |
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Buy from a company which is highly rated. You should check the ratings provided by
independent rating agencies including A.M. Best, Standard & Poors, Moody's and Duff & Phelps. |
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Don't overlook the impact of inflation. If you buy a policy without including a compounding-inflation rider, the true value of your benefits will be reduced. This is because inflation diminishes your purchasing power over time. In twenty years, for example, a 3½% inflation rate will cut your purchasing power in half! |
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Long-term care is needed by anyone with assets to protect but not enough to readily afford the cost of care. Whether you're a 40-year old recovering from a stroke or an 88-year old with Parkinson's disease, you must cover the cost of home care or of a nursing home. Skilled-care providers are highly paid, and your major medical insurance or HMO will not pay for these expenses. |
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* To check insurance ratings online, go to…
Standard & Poor's: www.wealtheffect.com/mfp/mfp_e.asp
Moody's: www.moodys.com/moodys/cust/ search/advanced_search.asp?type=ratings
A.M. Best: www.ambest.com then choose "Ratings Search" in the "Ratings Information" column.
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(Take note: you are only required to fill out the first three boxes to access the free online ratings; we also recommend, to maintain your privacy, that you uncheck the box at the bottom of that page which gives permission to share your information.)
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