January 2009
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How Insurance Differs from Investments and why you should care!Parsippany, NJ January 24, 2009 - Many Americans are having a crisis of faith with financial institutions, and it's no wonder why. Look no further than the collapse of old-line Wall Street firms whose names used to stand for security and prudence. Then hear how many other companies are falling over each other to merge to avoid bankruptcy. CONTINUE READING
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February 2009
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Overlooked Long-term Care Insurance Benefit Worth Weight in GoldParsippany, NJ February 20, 2009 - When considering whether or not to purchase a long-term care insurance policy, consumers often focus on premium cost and the dollar value of benefits payable. However, it's smart to also consider the value of other, often overlooked benefits that a policy may include. One such item is called 'care coordination,' and its value may be priceless to a policyholder at claim time. CONTINUE READING
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April 2009
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Getting LTC Insurance Claims Paid Easier and QuickerParsippany, NJ April 21, 2009 - Parsippany, NJ - Some insurance policies are so straightforward, there's rarely any confusion at claim time. Life insurance is a good example; if you're alive, you won't collect! Most other types of insurance, whether homeowners, auto, disability or long-term care (LTC), can be less easy to understand and navigate at claim time. The current issue (May 2, 2009) of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine includes an article on the topic of LTC claims, and, based on my experience, I'm sharing some ideas here. CONTINUE READING
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May 2009
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Premise vs. Promise: When an Assisted Living Facility Declares BankruptcyParsippany, NJ May 20, 2009 - Is it possible that planning for your long-term care could actually leave you in a more vulnerable position than if you had made no plans?
One of the ways to plan for future long-term care is to move into a continuing-care retirement community (CCRC). CCRCs offer a variety of living arrangements and support, from independent living, to assisted living, to skilled nursing care. CONTINUE READING |
June 2009
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Say Uncle (Sam!): The Federal Government and Your Long-Term Care PlanningParsippany, NJ June 22, 2009 - Are you relying on the federal government’s program to cover your living expenses in the event you get disabled? Probably not. Social Security’s Disability Program is notorious for its long wait for benefits and its stringent qualification requirements. Even if you meet its definition of disability, benefits aren’t payable until the 5th full month after disability begins. CONTINUE READING
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July 2009
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From Rhode Island to Taipei: Calls for Change in Long-term CareParsippany, NJ July 20, 2009 - Humans are, in general, reluctant to change. It’s been said that people only make the decision to change when the pain of the status quo becomes worse than the pain attached to change. CONTINUE READING
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August 2009
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What’s the Right Season for Long-Term Care Planning?Parsippany, NJ August 20, 2009 - The days are growing shorter again and we all know what that means: autumn is on its way. Clubs and associations resume meetings, television shows resume new seasons, kids are back in school. It’s time again to get serious. CONTINUE READING
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September 2009
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Long-term Care Insurance By The Numbers: 2009Parsippany, NJ September 21, 2009 - One number or statistic about an issue can sometimes be misleading. That said, there can be tremendous value in assembling a variety of numbers to help us get our arms around a topic.
Every year Broker World, a magazine for the insurance industry, releases its “Individual Long Term Care Survey,” a treasure trove of data about long-term care insurance. CONTINUE READING |
October 2009
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Someone Moved My Cheese and Hired My CaregiverParsippany, NJ October 20, 2009 - In the blockbuster bestseller “Someone Moved My Cheese,” the predicament of workers who had gotten used to business as usual was compared to mice in a maze who knew exactly what they needed to do to get fed. When the cheese was moved, they starved. The parable was a cautionary tale about the fear of change and how workers and businesses who couldn’t change, or wouldn’t change, would soon be extinct. CONTINUE READING
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