gs they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be

Many ask, but few are serious
"Oh, well, I really didn't want an agent to come out here," says the voice on the phone. "I thought you would just send me some stuff in the mail."

That is a typical response from people who have sent LTCi response cards to our company. However, there is a real, common sense reason for sitting down with an agent to talk about LTCi especially if you can find one who is actually a CLTC (Certified Long Term Care). All insurance is complex–LTCi is especially so.

Worried about scams? Face to face is best
While a person can hand you a scam anywhere, you are much safer when you see him face to face, get his name, license number and the name of a company you can call if you have questions about the legitimacy of the agent. Usually, however, it's simply much easier to say "no" over the phone, or just avoid sending the application in when you have done it through the mail. The truth is those who want quotes over the phone or who want to "get information through the mail" are more often just looking for some sort of excuse not to purchase LTCi.

What an agent will do
Designing a policy that fits your needs is a multi-step process that involves educating you along with determining your needs. A good agent understands the process of providing the coverage you need and will not enter your home and immediately begin filling out an application. Instead, he/she will engage in conversation–often about your family, your previous work history, general information about your finances, and discussion about your health and major medical insurance coverage.

Most agents are trained to share information very informally, so you don't even realize you are telling them things they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be

ied Long Term Care). All insurance is complex–LTCi is especially so.

Worried about scams? Face to face is best
While a person can hand you a scam anywhere, you are much safer when you see him face to face, get his name, license number and the name of a company you can call if you have questions about the legitimacy of the agent. Usually, however, it's simply much easier to say "no" over the phone, or just avoid sending the application in when you have done it through the mail. The truth is those who want quotes over the phone or who want to "get information through the mail" are more often just looking for some sort of excuse not to purchase LTCi.

What an agent will do
Designing a policy that fits your needs is a multi-step process that involves educating you along with determining your needs. A good agent understands the process of providing the coverage you need and will not enter your home and immediately begin filling out an application. Instead, he/she will engage in conversation–often about your family, your previous work history, general information about your finances, and discussion about your health and major medical insurance coverage.

Most agents are trained to share information very informally, so you don't even realize you are telling them things they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be

he application in when you have done it through the mail. The truth is those who want quotes over the phone or who want to "get information through the mail" are more often just looking for some sort of excuse not to purchase LTCi.

What an agent will do
Designing a policy that fits your needs is a multi-step process that involves educating you along with determining your needs. A good agent understands the process of providing the coverage you need and will not enter your home and immediately begin filling out an application. Instead, he/she will engage in conversation–often about your family, your previous work history, general information about your finances, and discussion about your health and major medical insurance coverage.

Most agents are trained to share information very informally, so you don't even realize you are telling them things they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be

iding the coverage you need and will not enter your home and immediately begin filling out an application. Instead, he/she will engage in conversation–often about your family, your previous work history, general information about your finances, and discussion about your health and major medical insurance coverage.

Most agents are trained to share information very informally, so you don't even realize you are telling them things they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be

gs they need to know in order to decide if LTCi is right for you. If it seems like the agent is "prying," remember, he is required ask for personal information. Surely you would rather give such information to a person you can see and even call later if you have questions.

Needs analysis: finding out if you qualify
Two of the most critical areas of discussion will be about your health and your finances. The agent will be looking for medicare and medicare supplement insurance if you are over 65, or for major medical–either private or from your employer–if you are still working or were able to keep your employer's health insurance when you retired. The one thing the agent does NOT want to hear is that you are on Medicaid, the government program for those with a severely low income. If you are on Medicaid, you are not eligible for any type of LTCi because it is considered double coverage. Medicaid will pay your nursing home bill should you ever need extended care.

Since LTCi is medically underwritten, the agent will ask you about your health. It is the agent's responsibility to help you avoid any unnecessary inconvenience or doctor's reports that would just result in a rejection. If you already have crippling diseases, major illnesses or extreme obesity, you will not qualify. The same goes for cognitive impairment such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Finding out if you need it
Once establishing that you may qualify based on your health (remember, the company will still see a doctor's report in most cases), the agent will ask you about your home and family. Do you have children who would be able and willing to participate in at least part of your care, assuming they outlive you? If you have a lot of stairs in your home, have you made plans to move in with someone or to go to an assisted living facility? Is your spouse already deceased, leaving you to fend for yourself if you need physical help? Are you a disabled veteran who would be on a priority list for a VA nursing home if you should need it. Knowing your precise situation will help the agent to design a plan for you.

In addition to understanding your