Nursing Home, Assisted Living Costs Increase for Fifth Consecutive Year
Costs for nursing homes and assisted living centers rose again from 2007 to 2008, making this the fifth consecutive year of price increases, according to results from Genworth’s latest Cost of Care Survey.
Costs for nursing homes have jumped 17 percent since 2004 and now average $76,460 annually or $209 per day for a private room. Assisted living charges escalated even more during the same period, rising 25 percent to average $36,090 nationally.
In contrast, in-home care costs for non-Medicare certified workers have remained relatively stable since 2004 and continue to average $18/hour for homemaker services and $19/hour for a home health aide. The cost of a Medicare-certified aide, however, has changed, rising 7 percent over the past four years to reach $38/hour on average in 2008.
For the first time, the survey looked at adult day health care. The annual cost for five-day-a week participation in a community-based care setting is $15,000, with an average daily price of $59.
The study speculates that costs will rise further if the shortage of long-term care workers continues.
Long-term care costs can vary significantly by locale. For cost information by state or metropolitan area, visit http://www.genworth.com/costofcare. You can also read the full report and a description of the research methodology used.
Long-Term Care should be part of your retirement plan. It is best to consult with a Long-Term Care specialist.
Simplify Your Long-Term Care Planning with Long Term Care Insurance Pros
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Long-Term Care Insurance In the News
Long-Term care and Long-Term care insurance are in the news daily. Maybe I am aware because it affects me and so many of my clients.
It's is generally a topic that no one wants to discuss except when a crisis situation has occurred in their family. Then, everyone seems eager to tell the story of a parent, family member or close friend that suddenly had a long-term care event . The story goes on to talk about the incident and the emotional drain of getting care for the family member. Of course, the finances of caring for the family member also comes into play.
We face an impending crisis as many older Americans are living longer, with more complex health care needs, and this increasingly outpaces health care providers.
Are you really prepared to take on the unexpected expense of caring for a loved one? Taking time off work, lost income and increasing expenses, in addition to the emotional impact, is enough to make anyone take some action.
In today’s economy, Long Term Care insurance helps families manage consequences rather than just the high cost of professional services and its risk.
Simplify Your Long-Term Care Planning! Consult with a Long-Term Care Specialist.
Read more articles on Long-Term care planning.
It's is generally a topic that no one wants to discuss except when a crisis situation has occurred in their family. Then, everyone seems eager to tell the story of a parent, family member or close friend that suddenly had a long-term care event . The story goes on to talk about the incident and the emotional drain of getting care for the family member. Of course, the finances of caring for the family member also comes into play.
We face an impending crisis as many older Americans are living longer, with more complex health care needs, and this increasingly outpaces health care providers.
Are you really prepared to take on the unexpected expense of caring for a loved one? Taking time off work, lost income and increasing expenses, in addition to the emotional impact, is enough to make anyone take some action.
In today’s economy, Long Term Care insurance helps families manage consequences rather than just the high cost of professional services and its risk.
Simplify Your Long-Term Care Planning! Consult with a Long-Term Care Specialist.
Read more articles on Long-Term care planning.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Long-Term Care Insurance Counseling
Buyers Beware! Insurance policies are legally binding contracts. How many people realize that before they get coverage?
Long-Term care insurance is no exception. Getting the counseling of a Long-Term care specialist will save you time and prevent any regrets in the future. The counseling includes:
- Companies to be avoided
- Companies best suited to your individual situation
- Knowing the exact provisions of your policy
- Inflation protection
- Getting a good plan without over spending
The provisions of your policy that you should be aware of are:
- Home Health care
- Assisted living
- Adult Day
- Alternate care
- Respite care
- Nursing home care
You can get online quotes for your specific financial situation very easily. The main thing to realize is that you are the one in control of your financial health care future.
But the longer you wait to purchase long term healthcare insurance, the more risk you could possibly incur. Take some time to sit down and figure out your financial situation in regards to your future long term health care benefits, you’ll be glad you did.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Plan
California is fortunate in that California Partnership policies are available to consumers. With a partnership plan, someone can purchase less than unlimited benefit amounts.
To qualify for Med-Cal to cover the costs of long-term care, individuals must spend down virtually all of their savings until they are considered at poverty level.
However, individuals who have purchased a Partnership policy will be able to retain savings and other investments equal to the amount their private insurance pays out for long-term care.
For example, if an individual has a two-year long-term care policy, but actually needs five years of care, their policy will pay benefits for two years (say, equal to $100,000) and Medi-Cal will allow them to keep $100,000 of their assets when determining their eligibility for Medi-Cal coverage for the remaining years.
Long Term Care Insurance Pros counsels families in Long-Term care planning and simplifies a complex subject. As Long-Term care specialists they are aware of the "sweet spots" of the top carriers. They simplify long-term care planning.
To qualify for Med-Cal to cover the costs of long-term care, individuals must spend down virtually all of their savings until they are considered at poverty level.
However, individuals who have purchased a Partnership policy will be able to retain savings and other investments equal to the amount their private insurance pays out for long-term care.
For example, if an individual has a two-year long-term care policy, but actually needs five years of care, their policy will pay benefits for two years (say, equal to $100,000) and Medi-Cal will allow them to keep $100,000 of their assets when determining their eligibility for Medi-Cal coverage for the remaining years.
Long Term Care Insurance Pros counsels families in Long-Term care planning and simplifies a complex subject. As Long-Term care specialists they are aware of the "sweet spots" of the top carriers. They simplify long-term care planning.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Long-Term Care Insurance helps keep Seniors Independent
In a recent edition of Elder Update, it was noted that most seniors fear losing their independence more than anything else. Consequently, nine out of 10 Americans age 60 and older wish to live out their lives in familiar surroundings rather than a hospital or nursing home.
Although an AARP survey found that nearly two out of three younger adults have discussed the subject of living independently with their parents, only four of 10 have begun to make any specific plans to handle a situation where the parents may need some assistance with some everyday tasks.
Too often those decisions are made during times of stress or when the parent can no longer be health qualified. It is advisable that older adults and their children consider the likelihood of needing services, consider whether they would be available as a community service (such as meals on wheels), figure the costs of providing needed services, decide whether you can save enough to pay for those services, and look into the possibility of long-term care insurance that provides in-home services.
For the best consultation available for Long-Term Care Planning go to http://www.LongTermCareInsurancePros.com
Although an AARP survey found that nearly two out of three younger adults have discussed the subject of living independently with their parents, only four of 10 have begun to make any specific plans to handle a situation where the parents may need some assistance with some everyday tasks.
Too often those decisions are made during times of stress or when the parent can no longer be health qualified. It is advisable that older adults and their children consider the likelihood of needing services, consider whether they would be available as a community service (such as meals on wheels), figure the costs of providing needed services, decide whether you can save enough to pay for those services, and look into the possibility of long-term care insurance that provides in-home services.
For the best consultation available for Long-Term Care Planning go to http://www.LongTermCareInsurancePros.com
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Long-Term Care Specialist
Everyday I encounter colleagues, neighbors, acquaintences and friends that are starting to ask questions regarding Long-Term care planning and Long-Term Care insurance. I understand how complicated the process can be when you are not speaking with someone that specializes in Long-Term Care planning.
Long-Term care can be hard to understand and it requires a broad knowledge of a person sfinancial plan in order to find just the right product. I am an independent Long-Term Care specialist and utilize only the top rated companies in the country. All the companies compensate the agents equally, so there is no bias toward one company or another. I look at your financial situation and select the company and product that will most accurately fit your overall situation.
There is a lot of work in finding the most appropriate Long-term care policy and only a professional that specializes in Long-Term Care should be consulted prior to making such an investment.
I offer policies that are tax qualified and I have also received special training and certification required to market Partnership policies.
Give me a call today and we can design a Long-Term care plan specifically for you. Call 949-854-3001 or Toll Free 1-877-GO-4-LTCi (877-464-5824) or visit our Long-Term Care Website at http://www.longtermcareinsurancepros.com/
Long-Term care can be hard to understand and it requires a broad knowledge of a person sfinancial plan in order to find just the right product. I am an independent Long-Term Care specialist and utilize only the top rated companies in the country. All the companies compensate the agents equally, so there is no bias toward one company or another. I look at your financial situation and select the company and product that will most accurately fit your overall situation.
There is a lot of work in finding the most appropriate Long-term care policy and only a professional that specializes in Long-Term Care should be consulted prior to making such an investment.
I offer policies that are tax qualified and I have also received special training and certification required to market Partnership policies.
Give me a call today and we can design a Long-Term care plan specifically for you. Call 949-854-3001 or Toll Free 1-877-GO-4-LTCi (877-464-5824) or visit our Long-Term Care Website at http://www.longtermcareinsurancepros.com/
Monday, April 14, 2008
Long-Term Care Insurance-Taking Care of the Caregivers
Almost on a daily basis, I speak with people that are caregivers. They are either part of the "sandwich generation" taking care of an ailing parent or close relative. The stories of caring for a parent with Alzheimer's is told over and over again. A similar theme is that it is usually one sibling that becomes the caregiver while the other siblings just explain or complain "that this is too hard for me to handle." This is what effects the relationship between the siblings and tears families apart Why is it the responsibility of only one sibling?
When Long-term care insurance has not been purchased for the person requiring care, families either pitch in and help pay for care or the so-called inheritance is being spent for care. Although money is a relevant concern for the caregiver, they are so caught up in "caregiving" that they are beginning to feel the effects in their own health and relations with their families, but have no other choice but to just keep going.
Long-term care insurance for these families would give them the ability to coordinate the the care for their ailing parent, but not have to do the hard physical work of caregiving. They have told me that they never realized how physically hard caregiving is not to mention the mental anguish of it all.
Now is the time for these caregivers to be planning for themselves. Long-term care planning should begin before there are health issues to deal with. Having a good plan in place helps for the future, but no one wants to think of their own future when they are so caught up in just getting through their own day of "caregiving."
It is my responsibility to encourage them to think about their own families and protect them against the physical and mental strain of caregiving by putting together a long-term care plan and getting a Long-term care insurance policy. When you love your family, you want them to continue to love you without having to be be your caregiver. Long-term care insurance gives you the ability to make your own choices about where your care will be given.
As a Long-Term care specialist with the designations of LTCP* and CLTC*, I help solve problems that may arise if you or a family member becomes incapacitated.
*Long-Term Care Professional signifies exceptional achievement. It is the premier designation of the long-term care insurance industry, a mark of excellence that distinguishes recipients as the elite in the field. *"Certified in Long-Term Care," a designation granted by the Corporation For Long-Term Care Certification. CLTC graduates have completed a rigorous multidisciplinary course that focuses on the profession of long-term care.
When Long-term care insurance has not been purchased for the person requiring care, families either pitch in and help pay for care or the so-called inheritance is being spent for care. Although money is a relevant concern for the caregiver, they are so caught up in "caregiving" that they are beginning to feel the effects in their own health and relations with their families, but have no other choice but to just keep going.
Long-term care insurance for these families would give them the ability to coordinate the the care for their ailing parent, but not have to do the hard physical work of caregiving. They have told me that they never realized how physically hard caregiving is not to mention the mental anguish of it all.
Now is the time for these caregivers to be planning for themselves. Long-term care planning should begin before there are health issues to deal with. Having a good plan in place helps for the future, but no one wants to think of their own future when they are so caught up in just getting through their own day of "caregiving."
It is my responsibility to encourage them to think about their own families and protect them against the physical and mental strain of caregiving by putting together a long-term care plan and getting a Long-term care insurance policy. When you love your family, you want them to continue to love you without having to be be your caregiver. Long-term care insurance gives you the ability to make your own choices about where your care will be given.
As a Long-Term care specialist with the designations of LTCP* and CLTC*, I help solve problems that may arise if you or a family member becomes incapacitated.
*Long-Term Care Professional signifies exceptional achievement. It is the premier designation of the long-term care insurance industry, a mark of excellence that distinguishes recipients as the elite in the field. *"Certified in Long-Term Care," a designation granted by the Corporation For Long-Term Care Certification. CLTC graduates have completed a rigorous multidisciplinary course that focuses on the profession of long-term care.
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