How do I avoid or minimize LTC rate increases?

This week, we're discussing rate increases on traditional or stand-alone LTC plans. Why do rate increases happen? What triggers the increase? How can we minimize or avoid future rate increases? The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance discusses why we should not expect large rate increases on current plans here View current and projected costs of care where you live at https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Learn what the Medicaid rules are in your state here Schedule a brief introduction call or zoom meeting with me here

Natalie inherited a $450K IRA from her mom and was able to use some of that money to design a hybrid life/LTC plan with tax free benefits if she needs extended care OR if she doesn't. She bought her plan five years ago and is half way done paying for it as it is a 10 year paid up plan. Before she retires, the plan will be fully funded. She won't need to think or worry about needing care or she can afford to provide for herself throughout retirement. Her kids won't need to worry about her, and she knows her mom would be proud of they way Natalie decided to use some of her taxable inheritance to create an enourmous amout of tax-free income to pay for her own future care needs. Schedule time with me to prepare for yor tomorrow HERE

As promised, here is a link to a great blog by Suze Orman on how someone with $5,000,000 in assets needs to consider LTC insurance protection https://www.suzeorman.com/blog/how-long-term-care-insurance-can-protect-your-retirement-plan/ It seems that with nearly every person or couple I work with, a version of this question comes up. Which plan do I recommend most often? Although all LTC plans are similar in how to qualify for benefits, each company and even each plan within a company carries unique attributes to that are attractive to various wants and needs of interested buyers.. This week, Diane shares different/unique characteristics offered inside hybrid life/LTC plans. Each company hass its own way to attract the clients they want to attract. Listen and learn some of the unique ways companies diffrentiate themselves. Email me at [email protected] and ask me for more info on hybrid LTC planning strategies. Then schedule a phone or zoom meeting with me to design your plan HERE

This is Season 6 episode 52! I'm so glad we've been able to educate people about LTC and LTC insurance for six years! As we prepare for Season 7, We'd love your input. What do you want to know more about? What do you like or dislike about the podcast? What else can I teach you? Email me at [email protected] and use the subject line?"Podcast Topics"

This week, we continue busting the perception of not wanting LTC insurance if it isn't going to cover all of our extended care needs. If we own insurance that pays for 75% of our needs for three or four years, then we and our family will only need to pay for 25% of the costs over that time. We also look at the top 12 most expensive states in which to receive and afford LTC services and how long average net worth can support that need. None of us are average, and none of us want average care when that event shows up and disrupts our family. But....if we have enough insurance leverage to help pay for at least an average claim, it's that much less complicated for our family to be able to afford to provide for our needs. Listen and schedule with me to learn more here

The Milliman Report shares valuable data and statistics on traditional LTC plans. Here's a link to the report 2025 Milliman LTC Report This week, we continue to explore misguided reasons people don't use LTC insurance as a tool to help their families afford to provide needed care during an extended care event As promised, here are some links to past episodes when we shared the many costs of waiting to plan for this potentially catastrophic need. There are many more you can find by searching, and then schedule time to start planning today here I should have done this when I first thought of it My clients need me 25 years before they think they need me Start young and get it done! We think wer're saving on premiums, but.... What are consequences of waiting to buy? Their advisor told them to wait

The 2025 Milliman Report shares valuable data on traditional LTC insurance companies and policies. Here is a link to the report 2025 LTC Report People always find reasons not to own LTC insurance and protect their families from this potentially catastrophic risk. Over the next two episodes, I'll share some of the reasons I've heard over the years and share why these reasons are unfounded. They're usually just excuses to not pay for a tool that can save your family from the physical, emotional and financial burdens we said we never wanted to place on them. Please listen and share this with someone you care about who is avoiding this conversation for any of these reasons (excuses) The first thing we need is knowledge. We need to understand this risk and then decide what tools we can use to protect against it. Let's schedule time to help you educate yourself so you're making decisions wisely. Schedule here

This is always a busy time of year for me. I know it happens every year, and I need to remember to adjust my schedule a bit after Labor Day. This is the time when all the people I've been working with decide that they need to get a plan in place by year end. And they're reaching out now to get moving. I'm thankful to be the specialist you choose to manage this part of your retirement plan, and will gladly help. So today, I'm reposting a case study of a gentleman I helped in 2023. The plan we designed for him is performing better than we had projected, and he's very happy. Take a listen and then schedule with me to start preparing for your tomorrow https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

In this episode, Diane shares excerpts from a recent LTC Bullet published by The Center for Long Term Care Reform https://centerltc.com/ There is a ton of great research and information at the Center. their mission statement is below.... The Center for LTC Reform is a private institute dedicated to ensuring quality long-term care for all Americans by promoting public policy that targets scarce public resources to the neediest, while encouraging people who are young, healthy and affluent enough, to take responsibility for themselves. I encourage you to continue to learn more about what we're up against and what we can do to encourage lawmakers and other public decision makers to prioritize the future of aging in our country. Hopefully, we'll all be aging, right? Sometimes, it feels like I'm aging as I type... Once you've decided that you need to prepare for your tomorrow, schedule a "get to know you " meeting with me by phone or zoom https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

Sometimes, when long term care insurance or hybrid life/LTC insurance is not available due to health concerns or budget, it's good to know that there are other options that may be available. This week, Diane shares some of those options. All may not be offered in every state, but it's worth it to ask if you can consider some of these planning strategies. If we don't offer some of these solutions, we have trusted colleagues who do. Schedule a brief meeting to learn more at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min The July 12, 2025 episode comparing annuities with income doublers and annuities with LTC extensions here