Monday, August 27, 2012

Long Term Care Insurance For 85-Year Olds

A single man or woman applying for long term care insurance at age 85 can expect to pay around $11,000 a year for an average plan of coverage a new report reveals.

“Almost every day we hear from someone who is 85 looking for long term care insurance,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. “The vast majority wait until the need for care is imminent and at that point it is too late.”

Few long term care insurance companies will offer coverage to individuals past age 80 according to the Association. “People with a need for care want to coverage but they can not meet the health requirements and applications were just a waste of time and cost for the insurers,” Slome notes.

According to the Association’s examination of long term care insurers offering coverage to those over age 80, a single individual who could meet the health qualifications could expect to pay around $11,000 per year for a policy that would pay around $164,000 in benefits. The cost for a couple would be between $20,000 and $22,000-per-year combined for that level of coverage for each.

The average age for individual applicants today is 57 according to Slome one of the nation’s leading long term care insurance experts. “We advise individuals that the sweet spot to look into this protection is between ages 52 and 64,” Slome says. “Do it before you go on Medicare and start to partake in the various free health exams which are wonderful but can uncover health issues that preclude you from qualifying for long term care insurance.”

While few insurance companies today will accept applicants after age 80, Slome counsels consumers to always get a comparison quote. “There is a whole lot more than price involved,” he notes. “Some policies limit your ability to receive paid for care in your own home which is a reason many people obtain this coverage in the first place.”

Monday, August 20, 2012

Long Term Care Insurance Video For Women

Long term care planning is especially important for women who live alone declares one of the nation’s long term care insurance experts. For the present they also benefit from some unique savings opportunities.

“Long term care is a woman’s issue,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. “Women provide the majority of unpaid informal care and they also have the greatest need for caring Americans that are going to need care.”

According to Slome women living alone have a particular reason to do planning and to consider long-term care insurance if they can afford the coverage and meet the health qualifications required today by insurers. “There is specific information that women who are single, divorced or widowed need to know about the issue,” Slome explains.

To assist women interested in learning more the organization has just posted a new five-minute educational video. The newest video just added to the organization’s online library is called Long Term Care Insurance Women and is specifically designed to touch on the most important facts. “We want women to understand the important basics before they begin even considering next steps,” Slome says. Long term care insurance women-the one fact for women

Members of the national trade association are offering free education and no-obligation long term care insurance quotes for policies from leading insurance companies. “We have members in all states committed to helping individuals,” Slome explains.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Diabetes Reduction Study Applauded By Long Term Care Insurance Director

Individuals with diabetes who increase their level of exercise and physical activity can lower their risk of premature death according to a study released by German researchers. “We applaud the study because Americans are already experiencing a health crisis and the problem is only going to get worse,” shares Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, a national trade organization that studies health and medical trends that impact the needs of older Americans.

“People incorrectly assume that everyone can purchase long term care insurance, but that is just not true,” Slome shared with consumers this week. “Diabetes is one of the conditions that will prevent you from health qualifying with most insurance companies clearly because it is a leading reason people will need costly long-term care.”

The German study involved over 5,500 individuals with diabetes. Scientists reported that those individuals who maintained moderate levels of physical activity had the lowest risk of death. A second study cited by Slome found that weight training without any aerobic activity can help prevent Type 2 diabetes. The study of 32,000 men drew the conclusion that by increasing muscle mass and improving insulin sensitivity, the study participants benefited.

Approximately 20 percent of those individuals who apply for long term care insurance are declined for health reasons according to Association study. “The percentage of declined applicants increases for older applicants,” Slome notes. “We advise individuals to look into their long term care planning options prior to reaching age 65 when they qualify for Medicare.”

According to the study’s group of participating men those who engaged in aerobic exercise for up to one hour weekly reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by seven percent. Between one hour and 150 minutes of aerobics reduced risk by 31 percent, and those who performed at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise reduced their risk by 52 percent. “We need to encourage much more awareness of what it takes to live a long and healthy life,” Slome concluded, “and then how to plan for living into your 90s and beyond.”