Limited and Extended Care Planning Collective

Each November, Long Term Care Awareness Month (LTCAM) plays a vital role in helping more families understand the importance of LTC planning. But what about in the employee benefits space?

Let’s be honest—talking about long-term care insurance (LTCI) isn’t exactly an easy sell. It’s emotional, complex, and often misunderstood. Most clients would rather talk about almost anything else. But as advisors, we know that planning for future care is one of the most important financial steps clients can take.

The challenge is getting them to engage without feeling overwhelmed or defensive. Here’s how to shift the conversation from uncomfortable to empowering.

As an insurance professional, you know that helping clients navigate their healthcare options involves creating complete solutions that protect both their health and their finances. While Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans offer essential medical coverage, many clients remain vulnerable to recovery and custodial care costs. That’s where short-term care insurance (STC) comes in.

By pairing STC policies with Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, agents can fill crucial coverage gaps, strengthen client relationships, and create new income opportunities. Let’s explore how this strategy works and see it in action through a real-life case study.

Retirement accounts are among the most common assets seniors hold, making it essential to understand how they fit into crisis Medicaid planning. If your client or their spouse owns an IRA that’s considered countable in their state, it must be eliminated before they can qualify for Medicaid.

However, liquidating an IRA can trigger significant tax consequences. Fortunately, your client can avoid this by transferring IRA funds into a Medicaid Compliant Annuity (MCA) as part of their Medicaid spend-down strategy.

We're excited to announce the launch of a new podcast from Limited and Extended Care Planning Center sponsor and Advisory Council member, Caregiving Conversations by OneAmerica Financial! 🎙️

The long-term care insurance (LTCi) industry is in the midst of a major transformation. As standalone policies continue to decline and hybrid solutions gain momentum, agents are facing a market that demands agility, education, and innovation. But rather than viewing this as a challenge, forward-thinking agents see an opportunity to grow, to differentiate, and to provide more value than ever before.

Here’s a forward-looking view of what agents can expect over the next decade and how to prepare.

I have considered myself an insurance professional for 40 plus years, three-fourths of it in LTCI and I will not give up the notion that the good guys and girls in our chosen corner of the insurance marketing universe are the ones that survive to tell their stories. We are consistent in strapping on our fiduciary armor every morning to restore and confirm each day our belief in the wisdom of understanding and leveraging risk. We understand better than most the value of planning ahead and drastically altering future outcomes by our diligent and caring interference.

Caregiving a powerful new documentary that delves into the triumphs and challenges faced by caregivers across the country, is proudly sponsored by the OneAmerica Financial Foundation. Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba and executive produced by Academy Award-nominated actor Bradley Cooper, the film premiered on Tuesday, June 24 on PBS, PBS YouTube, and wellbeings.org.

The documentary offers a crucial look at the vital, yet often invisible, role of caregivers today. It explores the emotional, financial, and physical toll that caregiving can take on individuals and families, while also celebrating their incredible resilience, love, and innovative spirit.

Connect, Educate, and Sell with Confidence to the Next Generation of Clients

Long-term care (LTC) insurance may not be top-of-mind for clients in their 40s and early 50s—but it certainly should be. As an agent, your ability to sharpen your LTC insurance pitch for younger clients can set you apart from competitors and open the door to a new segment of long-term planners.

Today’s younger clients are value-driven, information-savvy, and often balancing financial planning with family responsibilities. Here’s how to tailor your pitch so it resonates, not repels.

A Medicaid Compliant Annuity (MCA) is a specialized financial tool designed to help seniors qualify for financial assistance while protecting their assets. For agents and advisors, an MCA provides a legal and strategic way to help clients spend down excess countable assets that would otherwise delay Medicaid eligibility.

Technically speaking, an MCA is an income-only, single premium immediate annuity designed to work with Medicaid’s requirements by converting assets into income. This conversion allows individuals to reduce their countable assets while ensuring a steady flow of income, ultimately helping them meet Medicaid’s strict financial requirements.