UT Dallas Study Shows Brain Training Can Improve Cognitive Health

New research from the University of Texas at Dallas shows that brain training can improve cognitive health and even reverse cognitive decline.

Enhanced Brain Functions

In a recent study, scientists put patients in complex “directed brain training” for 1 hour a week for 12 weeks. What they saw was significant changes in three specific brain functions:

– an increase in global and regional cerebral blood flow

– greater synchrony in important brain networks

– increased white matter integrity (wiring in brain that helps information travel)

As we age, our brain function declines and we lose specific skills, such as memory, attention span, and the ability to reason. Patients in the study displayed improvements in two cognitive domains after the mental activity: strategic reasoning and the ability to abstract concepts.

“Greater levels of brain blood flow are associated with higher cognitive performance,” Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth, said in a University press release. “With upwards of 8 percent increase in brain blood flow, this research shows that participants are regaining measurable brain health.”

Lasting Effects 

A follow-up test conducted 1 year later confirmed that the enhanced cognitive abilities remained, proof that the results were not merely a short term effect of the training. Because dementia ranks as the number one cause of long-term care in the United States, affecting more than 5 million Americans, research continues to surge in nearly every related area. Studies on brain health have slightly shifted focus in recent years, from searching for a cure towards identifying preventative measures, like this complex targeted training.

The research was funded by several different groups: the National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, the T. Boone Pickens Foundation, the Lyda Hill Foundation and the Dee Wyly Distinguished University Endowment. The researchers attributed the ability to conduct this type of study to advancements in imaging technology.

Dr. Chapman and Dee Wyly, Distinguished University Chair, explained the implications of the study: “Until recently, cognitive decline in healthy adults was viewed as an inevitable consequence of aging. This research shows that neuroplasticity can be harnessed to enhance brain performance and provides hope for individuals to improve their own mental capacity and cognitive brain health by habitually exercising higher-order thinking strategies no matter their age.”

Risk of Dementia

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia pose a large risk to many, especially those with a family history. A recent report found that the number of Alzheimer’s cases in Texas is expected to triple by 2050, so planning for this potentially devastating situation can help save you from financial stress in the future, which can help reduce the associated emotional toll.

Remaining mentally and socially engaged are key to helping your brain stay active and healthy. Exercise and proper nutrition can also help prevent dementia, according to research. Read more about how to protect yourself from the risk that long-term care poses.

Shopping for Long Term Care Insurance Made Easy

We speak with consumers every day, most of them interested in buying a Long Term Care Insurance policy. What we find is that many of them are overwhelmed or confused by their various options and therefore less willing to make a decision. That’s why we put so much time and effort into helping educate consumers about the different options and why it’s so important to plan ahead.

Shopping for Long Term Care Insurance is one thing that seems to be intimidating to people. Not only do they have to think about themselves as old and fragile, but it also involves some financial decisions that require some consideration. This often ends up in people shying away from planning for long term care, often until it is too late.

Navigating the Buying Process

Shopping for Long Term Care Insurance doesn’t have to be hard; in fact, it shouldn’t be hard. After beginning the buying process, many people often end up kicking the can down the road. We want to provide information that helps consumers stop procrastinating and instead start taking action and preparing for their future. If you are looking into a Long Term Care Insurance policy, consider these ways to make shopping easier.

1)    Work with an independent agent – The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough. Some agents are what are called “captive” agents, meaning they are paid by companies to promote specific products. Even if one company’s policy fit your needs better, that agent might push you to buy another one because that would mean commission for them. It’s vital to work with an independent agent who can provide you with information from multiple companies and isn’t biased towards one or another.

2)    Compare multiple companies – This goes along with #1, but is so important it deserves another mention. Premium rates can vary as much as and sometimes more than 50% between carriers, so never go with the first policy option you see. Make sure you look at several different companies before you make a decision to buy, and make sure they are top rated blue chip companies.

3)    Start early – Don’t wait until you are in your 60s to start looking at policies. By then, it may be too late to qualify. Even if you can qualify, your premium rates will be much higher than if you’d applied at a younger age, say 50 or 55. Age has a big impact on the cost of a policy, so don’t overlook the importance of applying when you are young. Buying younger can also help you achieve the preferred health discount. Qualification criteria varies from company to company for the health discount, so again, look at several companies to see if you qualify for any before choosing a product.

Plan for the Future

For some reason, Americans are planning for retirement but leaving out the huge issue of long term care in their plans. Doing so can put your nest egg in jeopardy and put you at risk of turning to a family or friend to provide care later down the road. Long Term Care Insurance can help protect your assets and provide you with peace of mind during retirement, so don’t let the process of looking into policies scare you away.

Shopping for Long Term Care Insurance, if done with the right people, can be simple and easy to understand. Work with an agent who has experience in the industry to ensure you are getting the most accurate information.

We provide unbiased information on the top Long Term Care Insurance companies including their financial rating, rate increase history, and policy details. If you would like a free quote comparison, fill out this form and we will be in touch with you shortly.

Recent Texas Study Analyzes Falls in the Elderly

Year after year, falls remain the top cause of injury and death in the elderly and a leading cause for long term care. Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin set out to understand the exact science behind a fall in an attempt to further research that can identify ways to prevent such an occurrence from happening.

Study Procedures

The study, mentioned in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, involved tracking healthy people as they walked and ran on a treadmill in order to understand the variability in their steps. What they found was a significant but subtle difference in body movement.

Reflective markers were placed on different parts of test subjects’ bodies to measure various physical changes. Infra-red reflections of the markers were captured by cameras and digitally re-created to mirror the activity occurring and measure the body movements precisely. When participants’ results compared, researchers found that older people were more at risk of slight variations in their step that have the potential to lead to a fall.

Dr. Jonathan Dingwell, a university professor of kinesiology and health education, supervised  the study, which was conducted by graduate school student Kelly Frank as part of her Master of Science in Kinesiology. He intends to coordinate a related study that will track the relationship between step variation and the risk of falling. In the study, he plans to deliberately trip the elderly while they are walking on a split-belt treadmill in a full-body harness that will prevent a real fall or any injury.

Important Questions

The concepts being explored by these researchers hold real significance in the future of long term care. As more and more people begin to “age-in-place”, it becomes crucial that we do our best to identify and rectify any injury risks that pose a threat to elderly adults. Falling is one of the most important.

According to the CDC, 1 in 3 older adults suffer a fall every year. That huge risk looms over all aged adults, especially those living alone. Many people who experience a fall subsequently develop a fear of falling in the future, whether they were injured or not. Identifying risks and providing assistance can help alleviate these fears and allow people to live at home longer and more comfortably.

Preparing for the risk of a fall is important, as it can have serious physical, emotional, and financial effects. If you still need care after you leave the hospital, that care is considered long term care, and it tends to be quite expensive. Just 1 month of long term care can run you anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000 a month, depending on your location whether you receive care at home or in a facility.

Protect Yourself from the Risk

Many older adults take steps to help reduce the risk of a fall, like installing different home modifications to help ease the stress of living at home. Long term care insurance provides a way for people to protect their assets and their health from the high cost of long term care.

Policies are very affordable, especially when compared to the actual cost of care, and they provide you with the peace of mind that you need as you age. Should you ever suffer a fall, or any other debilitating injury or illness, long term care insurance will help you cover the expensive cost of care and protect your assets from financial depletion.

Government studies estimate 7 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 will need long term care at some point, so considering the risk, especially the risk it poses to your retirement savings, is a step that should not be overlooked. Read more about the risk of long term care or request free information today.

Texas Alzheimer’s Cases to Increase One-Third By 2025


The number of Alzheimer’s cases in Texas is estimated to increase by one-third by the year 2025, according to the 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures report.

Alzheimer’s and Seniors in Texas

There are currently 2.6 million seniors living in Texas and that number is expected to double by 2030.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia in the United States, with more than 5 million people currently afflicted by the disease. The average cost of Alzheimer’s in the United States is between $157 and $215 billion annually. In the past year, it has surpassed cancer and cardiovascular disease as the most expensive illness in the nation.

Alzheimer’s Research in Texas and Beyond

While there is no cure to Alzheimer’s, many studies are being done throughout Texas in an attempt to decode the mysterious disease. One Dallas couple participated in one of many Alzheimer’s research studies at UT Southwestern in an attempt to slow cognitive decline.

The Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) is an organization with physical sites around Texas that works to “improve early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Caring for Loved Ones with Alzheimer’s

In Texas alone, 1.3 million caregivers provided 1.5 billion hours of unpaid care in 2012, valued at $18.2 billion, according to the recent report. While many family members volunteer to care for their loved one, it can quickly become overwhelming. According to a recent study, Americans who have been caregivers for loved ones called it both worthwhile and stressful.

If in-home care from loved ones isn’t an option, nursing homes are usually the next choice. The Texas Long Term Care Partnership program estimates the average cost of a private room in a nursing home is over $61,000 a year. Most people cannot afford to pay these costs of out pocket, and may end up exhausting their assets and eventually, relying on Medicaid.

Is There a Solution?

Long Term Care Insurance can’t help you avoid Alzheimer’s, but it can help you pay for treatment and care. A government study estimates 7 in 10 seniors will need Long Term Care at some point.

Investing in Long Term Care Insurance and planning for your future ensures that you do not burden loved ones with the task of your care. It will also help you protect your hard earned assets by avoiding the high cost of nursing homes or paid in-home care.

Texas provides many great Long Term Care Insurance policies through their Partnership program. Read more here.

Talking Retirement with Your Loved Ones

The fear of not being able to care for yourself is common, especially among the elderly. Facing that fear alone can lead to financial and emotional disaster in the future, which is why it’s important to engage your family and discuss your plans with them before retirement.

Retirement Worries

Merrill Lynch released a study that helped identify the prevailing hopes and fears that dictate perception of retirement and long term care. The two top worries, they found, were outliving retirement savings and being a burden on family members.

In an interesting breakdown, the financial concern seemed to prevail in the younger population, while older adults were more worried about burdening their loved ones.

What constitutes a burden, though, is not as simple as you may think. Researchers dove a little deeper into what participants consider to be a burden to better understand attitudes towards long term care.

Defining a Burden 

Nearly half of respondents (49%) said that having family members physically care for them is a burden, and 30% considered taking family away from their own lives to provide care a burden. Slightly fewer, about 28% of people, view asking family for financial assistance as a burden, and just 22% view moving in with loved ones as a burden.

All in all, it seems that physical care is what most people anticipate to cause the most issues. Instead of discussing these fears with family members and loved ones, too often people keep their concerns, wants, and needs to themselves until a medical emergency changes the dynamic.

When the need for care occurs, if nothing has been discussed, chaos and stress usually manifest within the situation, and family tension and disagreement may arise. This type of scenario is the perfect example of why planning ahead can make such a huge difference in the quality of care you receive.

Having the Talk

The Merrill Lynch study discovered that only 36% of adults over the age of 50 have discussed their will or inheritance with their adult children, and a mere 10% have talked about how they plan to pay for long term care. The need for families to talk is serious.

The earlier you have this important discussion, the better off your entire family will be in the future. Medical emergencies often happen without warning; don’t be stuck trying to arrange care at the last minute.

Long term care insurance can help you prepare for this type of situation. This type of coverage shields your assets from the full cost of care and prevents you from burdening your family with the need for unpaid care. Read more about planning for long term care in retirement or fill out this form and receive a personalized comparison of the top long term care companies today.

Texas Ranks 39th in Senior Health

In a new report released by the United Health Foundation, Texas ranks 39th out of all 50 states in overall senior health. This ranking sheds some light on the issues that seniors in Texas currently face.

What Was Measured

Americans are living longer than ever before, but our health just isn’t keeping up. Seniors across the nation are experiencing health issues and needs that may not always be resolved or met. This may be due to economic status, location, lack of transportation, lack of information, or other reasons.

The United Health Foundation used 34 different factors to comprehensively analyze the senior health of each state. The 34 factors measured in the report are of 2 types — determinants and outcomes. Determinants are factors that can affect the future health of the population, whereas outcomes represent what has already occurred either through death or disease. For example, physical inactivity is a determinant while hip fractures are an outcome.

Physical inactivity, poverty, hip fractures, drug coverage, obesity, smoking, premature death rate, and hospital re-admission rates were just some of the factors measured in the report. Texas ranked at the bottom of the list, at number 39 of 50. However, like any state, Texas has its negatives and positives when it comes to senior health.

Texas – What’s the Problem?

Although everything is bigger in Texas, bigger might not be better in all cases. The newly released report found that more than 690,000 adults aged 65 and older in Texas are obese, ranking 33rd in the nation for senior obesity.

The measures in which Texas ranked worst, designated state “challenges”, include a low prevalence of able-bodied seniors and a high prevalence of both activity-limiting arthritis pain and food insecurity. These are three hugely important issues that affect the overall quality of life. The high prevalence of arthritis pain and food insecurity could both play a large role in the low prevalence of able-bodied seniors across the state.

The food that we eat plays a large role in our health, so if seniors are unable to access quality whole foods, their health will suffer. Eating the right foods can affect your arthritis, so it is crucial that those suffering from the disease have reliable food resources.

Community support for seniors was another area that Texas came in low, ranked 48 among 50 states. In addition,  Texas has one of the highest rates of seniors living in poverty at 11.3 percent of adults aged 65 and older. The high food insecurity in the state can be reflected back upon both of these issues. Community support programs for seniors, like those provided by the Area Agencies on Aging in Texas, can help provide resources that seniors would not have had access to otherwise, like Meals on Wheels, Nutritional Counseling, and other services that can help improve senior health and quality of life.

Simply participating in community programs and socially interacting with others can help seniors feel engaged with their surroundings. Benefits of social interaction in your senior years include lower blood pressure, a reduced risk of depression, and a potentially reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

It’s Not All Bad

Although Texas ranked 39th overall, the state still boasts some positives in terms of senior health. The report found that Texas’s strengths included a low prevalence of underweight seniors, a ready availability of home health care workers, and a high percentage of hospice care.

These measures show an indication of a shifting focus to the long term care industry, which is a positive thing for all seniors in Texas. Texas has a quickly growing senior population and the state is adjusting to keep up with this trend. Construction of long term care facilities that focus on memory care is growing in Texas, another indication that the state is catching up with the huge population of seniors.

How to Avoid the Health Crisis

One way to ensure you won’t be dealing with some of the issues facing seniors today is investing in Long Term Care Insurance. This insurance can help you cover the costs of long term care, should you ever need it. Long term care services are for those who have trouble with basic daily tasks, like dressing, bathing, and preparing food. For those Texans with activity-limiting arthritic pain, long term care may be necessary.

If you have a significant amount of assets saved, Long Term Care Insurance can help you protect those assets and provide you with the quality care you deserve. There are a number of great LTCI providers who have longevity in the industry and don’t have a large history of rate increases. Do your research and invest your money in insurance that will help you at the time when you need it most. You worked hard for your nest egg savings and should be able to enjoy retirement without worrying about how to pay for your next health care bill.

Just How Expensive is Long Term Care in Texas?

The cost of Long Term Care in the United States has steadily risen in the past decade. Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-home care services are now more expensive than ever. Fortunately for Texans, Long Term Care costs in the Lone Star State are still significantly lower than the national averages.

The Texas Advantage

According to the 2013 Cost of Care Survey released by Genworth Financial, Texas has some of the lowest Long Term Care costs in the nation. While the national median annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is $83,950, the median cost in Texas for the same service is only $61,320. The difference of over $22,000 is a highly significant chunk  of money that could be put towards other expenses or saved for future use. Compare the cost in Texas to states like California where the median cost is just under $98,000 annually or Alaska where the median cost is a shocking $255,891, and it becomes clear that the difference in cost truly matters.

Furthermore, the national median cost for a private room in a nursing home was up 7.4% from $77,745 in 2011, but the Texas median only increased 1.8% from the 2011 median of $60,225. That indicates that in addition to lower costs overall, the cost growth rate is also lower in Texas compared to the nation as a whole.

The national and Texas medians were more similar when it came to assisted living facilities and in-home care services, but the numbers differed considerably again in regard to adult day cares. Adult day cares are non-residential facilities where caregivers can take a long term care patient for the day. These facilities incorporate health, social interaction, help with daily tasks, and therapeutic services. The national median cost for an adult day care center was $16,900 annually. In Texas, the median was almost exactly half that at $8,580 yearly.

Preparing for Long Term Care

Just because long term care services in Texas are cheaper than the rest of the country certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan to pay for them. Planning for your future long term care health needs is a vital part of retirement planning. Because Texas has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates, the state health care system is struggling to stay afloat. More than 6.3 million Texans are uninsured, meaning a lot of people will soon be turning to Medicaid for their long term health needs. This has the potential to lead to substandard quality of care within the government subsidized health programs.

The looming Medicaid crisis in Texas only encourages Long Term Care Insurance more. With LTCI, you don’t have to run the risk of compromising care for cost. An LTCI policy will safeguard your assets from depletion, while ensuring you receive the quality care you deserve. The state and private insurers worked together to create a Long Term Care Insurance Partnership program for the state, offering a variety of plans to Texas residents.

Interested in Long Term Care Insurance in Texas? Read more about Texas LTCI Partnership policies here.

Get the latest LTCI quotes from the top cities in Texas here.

Brace Yourself for High Health Care Costs in Retirement

When planning for retirement, there is often little focus on the detailed costs. Rather, many people simply guesstimate how much money they will need to continue paying for their daily lives and base their contribution rates off that. Unfortunately, one cost is often left out of the planning process, and it can easily be one of the biggest ones you will face.

Retirement Health Care

Health care costs in retirement can be staggeringly high, with a recent study placing them at around $220,000 for the average couple.

This may be shocking to some, but that estimate already assumes you are eligible for Medicare and doesn’t include any costs covered by that program. That estimate also doesn’t include expenses like over the counter medications, some dental care, and the biggest cost of all, long term care.

Long term care is typically the expense that causes the most financial stress among retirees, especially those who haven’t adequately prepared for it. No one wants to consider themselves in poor health, but doing so can help you be ahead of the game when it comes to saving for retirement. The majority of people understand that health care costs are a big obstacle to overcome, and 84% of adults surveyed in a recent Fidelity study said they are worried about being able to pay for their health care costs in retirement.

Unrealistic Optimism

The study also found that most  people tend to be optimistic, sometimes naively so, when it comes to their future health. Of course not every one will end up spending $220,000 for health care costs in their retirement years; some will spend more and some will spend less. Accurately addressing your own risk, though, can help you determine how much you might need.

Unfortunately, most people think they will be better off in old age than the rest of retirees. 71% of survey respondents say their health will be “better than average” in retirement. There is often a sense of invincibility when it comes to future health. People either don’t want to consider the fact that they may ever need care for health problems or truly believe their good health will last forever. Either way, that can be a dangerous perspective in terms of retirement planning.

Nearly half of adults aged 55-64 who were interviewed for the survey said they expect their total health care costs to be around $50,000 for retirement. Again, $220,000 doesn’t apply to every one, but $50,000 is an extremely low number, especially if that’s all those workers plan to save. Inflation also plays a huge role in the cost of health care, and not preparing for the impact that inflation has can come with some big risks of being underprepared and faced with a huge surprise later down the road if they ever need long term care, which even now averages more than $50,000 for a single year of care for one person.

Planning for the Price of Care

Establishing a plan to save for these costs is vital to being prepared when the time comes. Setting aside that much money in cash assets for health care alone is difficult for many people, which is where Long Term Care Insurance may be able to help. Long Term Care Insurance provides coverage for health care costs associated with long term care and these days, most good policies cover care whether it is received in a nursing home, assisted living facility, or from a home health aide.

Rather than set aside $220,000 in cash assets to prepare for health care costs, investing in a Long Term Care Insurance policy and transferring the risk can help you avoid having to accumulate that much wealth for that one cost. If you opt for the Inflation Protection benefit, which we recommend every one do, the value of your benefits will grow in pace with inflation, so you won’t have to worry about how costs have risen years later when you need care.

It’s crucial to look into policies when you are younger, in your 40s or 50s, rather than waiting until your 60s or 70s. You will have a much better chance of medically qualifying then and your rates will also be substantially less. Just be sure you work with an independent agent who helps you compare different carriers and finds the plan that works best for your needs.

If you are interested in learning more about Long Term Care Insurance, we offer no-cost personalized quote comparisons of the top rated carriers in the industry to help you get a better idea of how much benefits cost. Simply fill out this form and we will be in touch with you shortly.

Cut Your Chances of Needing Long Term Care

Planning for long-term care is something we should all be doing, whether you are in your 20s or your 60s, and it entails more than just saving money. While putting money towards retirement and your future health care is a great thing to do as soon as you possibly can, there are other ways to help plan for long term care and possibly even reduce your risk of needing care at all.

Make Health a Priority

Focusing on your health is important to helping reduce your risk of issues that often contribute to the need for long-term care. Chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and other health incidents are some of the most common reasons that people need long-term care and putting effort towards your health can significantly cut the chances that you will develop those diseases later down the road.

When it comes to your health, most people know that healthy eating and dieting play key roles. Unfortunately, most people don’t actually follow the general recommendations for eating healthily and getting regular exercise, which is a large component of why chronic diseases continue to increase in prevalence across the United States.

High cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity are running rampant throughout the United States, and to help control these risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, consider following these steps to help you put more focus on your health and give your future self an advantage.

Steps to Better Health

1)    Eat more fresh foods – Recent studies have found that processed foods make up the large majority of the American diet. These foods are filled with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and all sorts of chemicals that don’t benefit the body in any way. Rather than choose foods that are in boxes or bags, opt for fresh foods instead. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, as those foods contain high amounts of antioxidants which help combat free radicals, the source of many diseases.

2)    Exercise regularly – Exercise doesn’t have to be a tough regimen at the gym, but rather it can involve some low-impact activities like walking daily or swimming a few times a week. Strength training is great for the body, too, so try to focus on both that and cardio. Exercise not only strengthens your body, but your mind, too, giving you better protection against the risk of mental diseases.

3)    Socialize – This is especially important for retirees, many of whom spend most of their time being idle at home. Not only is sitting for long periods of time detrimental to our health but so is going without mental stimulation. Join a local organization like a book club, a volunteer group, or a meet-up that aligns with your interests. It will help keep your brain sharp and your mood up.

Adding these important components of health into your lifestyle will help you improve your mental, physical, and emotional health and set you up for better health as you age. To learn more about ways that can help you improve your long term health, read this post.

Looking at Long Term Care Insurance? Don’t Wait to Buy

Shopping for insurance isn’t something that should be rushed. Buying an insurance policy isn’t like buying a new shirt; it’s a process that requires a lot of serious thought and consideration.

Take Your Time, But Don’t Procrastinate

Because buying insurance is a matter that shouldn’t be taken lightly, we understand the importance of taking your time to think through all of your options before you decide. On the other hand, though, we have also found that there is a big difference between thinking through your options and putting off the decision. Many people tend to do the latter rather than follow through and buy a policy, which often ends up hurting them in the end.

Long Term Care Insurance can help you pay for the cost of long term care so you don’t have to cover the costs with the savings you have worked so hard for throughout your entire life. It provides you with a separate pool of money from the cost of care is deducted, should you ever file a claim. Qualifying for a policy requires more than just an application, though; it also requires good health and oftentimes, a young age. That’s why putting off the decision to buy a policy can be so risky.

Shelving the Idea

We frequently speak with clients who are shopping around for policies. After speaking with them, we send them a binder with a personalized quote comparison for them to look over. The point of the binder is to provide clients with all the information they need and allow them to review the various choices to decide which is best for them. Following a thorough review of the various policies is often the best time to buy. The information is fresh in your mind. All too often, though, we hear the age-old addage, “I’ll think about it.” Sometimes, we never hear from those clients again. Sometimes, we do.

When we do hear back from those clients, it is often one of two things. Either they just had an experience with a friend or family member that made them reconsider buying a policy and they are now ready to purchase, or they themselves have experienced a serious health problem that requires long term care and they are desperate to know if it is still possible to buy a policy. The answer? Probably not.

If you wait until you have fallen, suffered a stroke or heart attack, become fragile, or been diagnosed with a disease, the chances of qualifying for a Long Term Care Insurance policy are slim. Unfortunately, some people shelve the idea of buying a policy until one of those things happens and by then, it is too late. We actually spoke with a client recently who this happened to. Sadly, she didn’t wait long at all – just one week went by between when we sent her the binder and when she broke her hip. By the time she fell, there was nothing she could do. Her chances of qualifying for a policy were out the window because she was in her late 70s.

Buy at the Right Time

It may seem like the sensible thing to do: wait a little while to make a decision, and it might be. It also might be a mistake, though. Understanding your personal risk is vital to understanding when you should buy a policy. For most people, buying in their 50s is the best time because they are still in relatively good health and their age helps them attain lower premiums.

Regardless of how old you are, though, once you have decided that a Long Term Care Insurance policy is something for you, don’t wait to make the purchase. The longer you wait, the greater your chances are of missing out on your window of opportunity. To request a free quote, fill out this form. Thanks so much for reading our post today.