Saturday, February 21, 2015

What To Look For In A Long Term Care Quote

By Olivia Cross


Prudent people plan for their retirement years from an early age. Life expectancy has risen and nobody want to spend their last years living in poverty or dependant upon family or the state. There are many factors to consider when planning for future financial security. One important possibility that is often overlooked is the potential need for personal care at home or at an institution for an extended period of time. When planning a financial portfolio, it is vital to also get a long term care quote.

Thinking that medical insurance, even the most comprehensive medical insurance will cover situations where the policy holder requires permanent or even semi permanent caring from a dedicated professional can be a very big mistake. Many people requiring this type of service are not actually ill and they do not need medical attention. Instead, they need assistance with activities such as eating, dressing and toileting, for example.

Policies that specifically cover the cost of ongoing personal assistance, either in an institution or at home, are offered by most of the large insurance companies. The cost of permanent or even part time personal care by a professional can be staggering, especially if one thinks about the fact that such assistance may be required for many years. Getting insurance for such a situation is simply a sensible and responsible step.

It is also important to consider the fact that infirmity and frailty are not the exclusive domains of the elderly. Accidents and disease render many younger people and children unable to perform even the most basic personal care tasks. In many cases lifelong personal assistance will be required. The families are not always able to provide the level of assistance that is required and there is also the dilemma of the future of the disabled young person once his family is no longer there to care for him.

It is not easy to evaluate the offerings of the various insurers or to compare the various policies that they offer with each other. Each insurer has different terms and conditions and the benefits offered by the different policies fluctuate wildly. In some cases insurers will only pay if the patient complies with a number or criteria, such as the ability to walk or to perform basic tasks such as eating independently. Other insurers will only pay for basic or intermittent care and some will not pay for a live in caregiver.

This is why it is vital to get several quotations from a variety of insurers before making a final decision. It may also be worthwhile to consider only policies that can be upgraded at a later stage. Many people find it very difficult to compare the pros and cons of the various quotations with each other. This is because there is no standard format in which such quotations are presented.

One solution is to seek professional advice. Brokers that specialize in this type of policy can obtain quotations on behalf of their clients. They can then explain the advantages and disadvantages of each policy and recommend a product that will suit the needs and budget of the client. There are also independent websites that can produce several quotations, all in a similar format, making a comparison between them easier.

Considering a life where it is impossible to perform even basic personal tasks can be depressing. However, considering such a life without professional help can be a nightmare. Purchasing an appropriate policy will at least ensure a dignified and endurable life.




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