“The Surprising Benefits and Costs of Family Caregiving”

“The Surprising Benefits and Costs of Family Caregiving,” by Maddy Dychtwald, Wall Street Journal “Already, 40 million Americans are providing care to an adult family member or friend, most often to an aging parent or spouse. As the massive baby-boomer generation hits their 70s, the demand for family caregiving will skyrocket—and it’s poised to become America’s biggest off-the-books industry. In order to better understand the caregiving crunch, my firm, Age Wave, in partnership with Merrill Lynch, just completed a study, The Journey of Caregiving: Honor, Responsibility and Financial Complexity, that uncovers the rewards and sacrifices of this complex lifestage.” LTC Comment
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Should you use a reverse mortgage in retirement?”

“Should you use a reverse mortgage in retirement?,” by Peter Rueth, MarketWatch A major component of wealth and retirement planning often overlooked or ignored, is home equity. Based on U.S. Census Bureau figures, collected in 2011 and dated 2013 the average married couple entering retirement will have a net worth of $194,226. However, when home equity is removed net worth drops to just $43,921. With 77% of a retiree’s net worth locked in home equity it’s astonishing why so many financial planners ignore home equity when creating retirement plans. There is currently over $6.3 trillion in senior housing wealth and
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

Ameritas: Introducing a new and improved Find A Provider experience

We’re excited to announce our new and improved Find A Provider experience! The new online dental directory features enhanced functionality to provide users with search results in seconds — giving you more selling power backed by innovative technology. Here are some of the key features: Mobile Responsive The new site is designed to function like an app, so your customers can use it wherever they go. Intuitive and Interactive The most cost-effective providers are displayed first and in green to enable optimal decision making and allows them to compare providers based on their needs. Full-color Map Quickly shows users where
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Categories: Ameritas/Security Life and Dental.

Aetna: 2018 Individual Medicare administrative fee payments

2018 Individual Medicare administrative fee payments Administrative fee payments are currently being processed and paid for Individual Medicare enrollments (MA/MAPD, PDP) effective January 2018 that were submitted during the Annual Election Period (AEP). To be eligible to receive administrative fee payments, all writing agents, uplines, payees and principals must be “ready to sell.” To eliminate or minimize chargebacks in January, we process administrative fee payments as follows: Initially, you’ll receive a partial payment, at the renewal rate, for all enrollments. Next, if CMS confirms that enrollments qualify as “initial sales” (i.e., if enrollees are “new to Aetna” or “new to
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Categories: Aetna, Industry News, and Medicare Supp./Adv..

Reminder: Genworth Simplifies Underwriting Categories for Individual Long Term Care New Business

Last year, we simplified our underwriting process. We stopped automatic blood and lab requirements for applicants under age 60 and reduced other requirements at various ages. This year, we launched our eSuite of new business tools which provides a whole new level of speed, simplicity and convenience. On November 20, 2017, to further simplify an streamline our new business process, we are reducing our four underwriting categories to two, select and Standard, with no rate changes in these categories. We will no longer offer the Preferred Best and Preferred categories on applications received at Genworth’s home office on or after
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Categories: Genworth, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Associated Insurance Services, Inc.

11/13/2017 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Westlake Village, California-based Associated Insurance Services, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1962, Associated Insurance Services is an independent commercial and personal lines property/casualty insurance agency with a focus on construction industry, retail, hospitality and manufacturing clients. Michael C. Creswell, Tim McClain, Megan B. Gaines and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallagher’s Southwest Region retail property/casualty brokerage operations. “Associated Insurance Services strengthens our brokerage operations geographically and enhances our ability to serve
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Categories: GoldenCare News.

New Withdrawal/Surrender Request Form for Internal Replacements

Effective December 1, 2017 we will now require the Withdrawal/Surrender Request form  WithSurr0917 to be completed and sent to New Business when doing an Internal Replacement of an existing policy. This form is required prior to printing any internal replacement policy and is only required on non-1035 applications. It is available for download on TAANI under Forms Finder. It can also be attached and submitted with the application in iGO. On the form, you will need to complete the following sections: Section 1, completed in its entirety Section 2, under “Surrender Options” — In special instructions provide the following verbiage
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Categories: Industry News, Life Insurance, and Transamerica.

“LTC Product Sales Rise 12%: LIMRA”

“LTC Product Sales Rise 12%: LIMRA,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “Stand-alone long-term care insurance (LTCI) may continue to be in the doghouse, but overall sales increased 12% in 2016, according to data from LIMRA. LIMRA analysts report in a new commentary that premium revenue from new sales of three major categories of long-term care (LTC) planning products increased to $4.3 billion last year, from $3.8 billion in 2015. New sales of individual stand-alone LTCI fell 13%, to $228 million, but sales of individual annuities that offer LTC benefits increased 2.1%, to $480 million.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President,
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Why LTC Needs to Be Included in a Retirement Plan, Pt. 2: Five Strategies for Communicating With Prospects”

“Why LTC Needs to Be Included in a Retirement Plan, Pt. 2: Five Strategies for Communicating With Prospects,” by Sandra Timmerman, ThinkAdvisor “How do financial professionals and sales associates talk to clients about the subject of long-term care in a way that doesn’t scare them and can help them think about an uncertain future? One person told me ‘I’m scared enough already, I don’t need to hear more statistics about how I will need long-term care.’ Here are five ideas worth considering in helping clients understand the value of long-term care planning and why they should get started sooner rather
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

Good News | Online Marketing Package for Long-Term Care Awareness Month

  Online Marketing Package for Long-Term Care Awareness Month In support of November Long-Term Care Awareness Month, help National Guardian Life (“NGL”) spread the word about the importance of LTCi! A new online marketing package, which includes 22 EssentialLTC #LTCAwarenessMonth  Fact-of-the-Day Infographics, can help spread awareness! Download series Don’t forget to visit www.goldencareagent/ltc-awareness-month/ for this and a variety of other LTC Awareness Month tools & resources! Read Full Good News Article #goldencareagent #NGL #long-term care
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Categories: GoldenCare News, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.