Limited and Extended Care Planning Collective

When helping clients plan for long-term care, one of the most important Medicaid rules to understand is the lookback period. This regulation can have a major impact on your clients’ ability to qualify for benefits, especially when it comes to asset transfers. As a financial advisor, knowing how this rule works helps you guide clients toward compliant strategies that protect their assets and achieve eligibility.

As the year winds down, advisors and clients focus on taxes, retirement contributions, and portfolio reviews. But one critical topic often gets overlooked: long-term care planning.

Discussing long-term care (LTC) before year-end helps clients start the new year with a more complete, secure plan. The best time to plan is before care is needed, when clients still have control, options, and time on their side.

For many families, the cost of long-term care is overwhelming. A private room in a nursing home can easily top $100,000 per year, quickly draining savings and leaving loved ones financially exposed. That’s where Medicaid can step in to help. But before qualifying for assistance, most clients must first “spend down” their assets to meet strict eligibility limits.

As a financial advisor, understanding Medicaid spend-down strategies, especially the Medicaid Compliant Annuity, can set you apart as a trusted expert who helps clients protect what they’ve built while securing long-term care coverage.

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.

In his recent Broker World article, “Preemptive Strike,” NAIFA member Ronald R. Hagelman urges advisors to prepare now for a massive demographic shift as Baby Boomers transition from accumulation to distribution and claims. The long-term care and asset protection markets are entering a new era, one defined less by policy sales and more by client service, advocacy, and claims management.

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.