HealthyLife Articles

Tag: assurance

  • Long-Term Care Insurance

    Medical Care

    Image of couple talking to an insurance agent.

    Long-term care insurance is meant to cover the cost of nursing home care and long-term  home health care. Medicare and private health insurances do not cover these costs. This kind of insurance is not government regulated. You may want to purchase this for yourself. Your children may want to purchase it for you to protect themselves from having to pay for your long-term care or to protect their future inheritance.

    Find out more about long-term care insurance from:

    *  LongTermCare.gov athttp://longtermcare.gov. Learn the basics of long-term care and ways to pay for it. Use the LTC PathFinder tool to get information on long-term care insurance that is most relevant and useful to you now.

    *  National Advisory Center for Long-Term Care Insurance atwww.longtermcareinsurance.org. Get help from an unbiased long-term care insurance advisor. Ask for multi-company comparative quotes  for long-term care insurance.

    *  Consider a policy that starts paying on the 90th day instead of day 1. The difference in price can be 30%. Do this only if you can afford the long-term care center’s cost for the first 3 months on your own.

    *  Check Moody’s and Standard & Poors at your local library. Look for insurers rated “A” or better.

    *  Read the complete policy coverage. Consult an attorney or knowledgeable person to review it with you.

    *  Pay premiums, by check, directly to the insurance company. Never pay in cash.

    *  Fill out the policy application yourself or with a friend or relative. Don’t allow someone to do it for you.

    *  Be cautious of companies advertised by celebrities.

    *  Insist on coverage that does not require a hospital stay before going to a nursing home.

    *  Resist high pressure insurance agents or claims that their long-term care insurance is endorsed by the government.

    Be cautious before you purchase a policy. Ask the following questions:

    *  Will the policy cover home health care? Does this include “aides” or housekeeping coverage or just “skilled” care?

    *  Does the policy cover Alzheimer’s disease, specifically?

    *  Must you be medically ill to receive benefits? What about custodial care?

    *  Does the coverage include nursing home custodial care, adult day care, or other community-based services?

    *  Does the policy require a prior hospital stay before entering a nursing home?

    *  Are there exclusions for “pre-existing” illnesses? Are there waiting periods?

    *  How long is a stay in a nursing home covered? (The average stay is just under 4 years.)

    *  How much will the nursing home be paid on a daily basis from this policy? What is the daily charge of the nursing home? You will have to pay the difference between the insurance coverage and what the nursing home charges.

    *  If premiums are being paid, is there a guarantee that the policy can be renewed?

    *  Is the policy one that can’t be canceled?

    *  Will your coverage keep up with inflation?

    *  Are premiums waived while getting benefits?

    Page from the Health at Home Lifetime book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Address Insecurity

    Healthylife® Weigh

    Part 6

    Man and dog outside.

    Focus on things that you can do well. List at least 5 things in your life that you are proud of. Examples include raising a family, earning a degree, getting promoted at work, increasing your bowling average, and having a garden!

    How can you improve these skills further? Set realistic goals to do this!

    Spend time with people who make you feel loved and secure. Build a list of places you can go where you feel comfortable.

    Spend Time with Animals

    Spend time with a pet. Volunteer at a shelter. Spend time with a friend or family member’s pet. Go to a pet store, or look at adopting a rescue animal. Spending time with a pet can:

    *  Decrease production of cortisol, a stress hormone that can put you on edge and make you ill over time.

    *  Increase serotonin, which helps you feel relaxed and happy.

    *  Help you feel secure. Pets, especially dogs, can love unconditionally and may sense when you need extra support. Some pets are trained to help you manage certain emotions, like anxiety.

    Stand Tall

    Change your posture, whether you are sitting or standing. Changing your posture can help you change your point of view.

    Power Stance: Plant your feet firmly, shoulder-width apart. Take a deep breath and pull your shoulders back, stretching your upper chest forward. Place your hands on your hips.

    This can help you feel respected and powerful. Appreciate your own power and what you are capable of doing. Feel respect for yourself.

    Stand or sit in this pose for a few minutes before a challenge, such as an emotional conversation or job interview. Use this  tool for addressing your inner critic or self-defeating thoughts.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine