A Christmas song from Paul & Diane Stoddart
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
We recorded "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" along with a few other classics about 15 years ago. My husband, Paul, is the guitar master, and I am playing flute. Please enjoy, and share with those you care about most as you gather to celebrate this week. As Christians, our family is celebrating the birth of our Savior. Whatever you celebrate this season, do so with love and joy in your hearts. If you're weary, lay still and hear the angels sing as they bring peace throughout the world. I pray for blessings over each of you today, and into 2026 (and beyond). Sending hugs to...
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Guest Interview:Jason Dutra BuddyIns - easy to add LTC at work
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
When discussing worksite LTC with employers, two question come up all the time - 1) How much work do I as an employer or HR director have to put in? 2) I heard LTC insurance is expensive. How much more will the company be spending to add this benefit? Jason Dutra clearly addresses both of these questions this week. For more info, reachout to me Or research first at Jason's email is When asking him or the team for more info, be sure to let them know I sent you so we can connect that way.
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I can't afford LTC & I'll never qualify for Medicaid
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
That title is an oxymoron. Truthfully, if you'll never qualify for Medicaid, that means you'll pay for all of your long term care needs yourself. In this week's episode we're sharing things you need to consider today, long before care is needed. You need to prepare for tomorrow's needs today, whether you choose to own insurance or not. You need to create a roadmap for your caregivers to follow if you're unable ot unwilling to communicate your wishes when you need extended care. In today's episode, Diane shares what is involved in creating that roadmap. To help you prepare for where...
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301% rate increase? What the...?
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Diane received an email this week from a long time listener who received a notice of a 301% rate increase request from his LTC insurance company. This episode discusses the process of requesting and seeking approval for rate increases. This process is heavily regulated from multiple angles. It's definitely not a random insurance company tactic to create more profit or to force policy holders to cancel their policies. I know it seems like it sometimes. Rate increases cause a lot of headache and extra work and payroll expense to the insurance companies as well. They don't want to...
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Some of what I'm thankful for...
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Thank you all who are listening to these podcasts and for the great feedback you've shared over the years. I can't believe we're in our sixth year already. I'm so thankful that these poscasts are helping so many people learn about long term care and all the strategies available to protect our families. Enjoy your family this Thanksgiving weekend, and always be thankful. If you're ready to plan for your family, schedule
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Guest Interview: Jason Dutra with BuddyIns discusses UNUM ceasing LTC sales in February 2026
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
This week, Jason and Diane discuss UNUM's February 2026 ceasing of LTC group and employer sales. How should employers and employess react to this decision? What are the next decisions that must be made? What can employers now offer to newhires? Should current policyholders keep their policies? When you don't have answers, the best thing to do is talk with a long term care planning specialist like myself. I will help you determne what questions you should be asking as well as work through the answers with you. Each employee's family is unique and LTC needs are different for each family....
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Nov. is LTC Awareness Month & Family Caregiver Month - coincidence?
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
We need to recognize the contributions and sacrifices that family caregivers make to help those they love who can't provide for their own daily needs. The reason most people own LTC insurance is to help those caregivers to not feel alone and isolated. If you don't own LTC insurance and you want to protect your family, assets and choices, schedule time with me to plan Below are many resources to help caregivers help their loved ones better. Administration for Community Living Alzheimers Association American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Aging Life Care Association ...
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Who is the LTC insurance really for?
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
This week, I'm kind of on a soapbox. It seems that some people will keep asking about LTC insurance until someone tells them they don't need it. No one knows if we'll need help living at some point or not. We need to ask ourselves who the insurance is going to help. We're going to get care whether we plan or not. We need to ask oursleves who wil suffer the consequences of our failure to plan. It's the people helping us. We say we don't want to "burden our family", but by not discussing where we want to live, who we want helping us and how we will pay...
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Questions we don't get as often but very relevant
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
This week, we decided to answer some questions that we don't get as often as some others, but they're still very relevant. When plannng for long term care needs, we need to gather enough information to be able to decide what kind of plans will fit our needs best. We're here to help and to address those questions that you may not have thought to ask. Listen and then schedule a phone or zoom meeting with me to design your plan to protect your family through an extended care need. Schedule
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Which hybrid plan do I recommend most?
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
It seems that with nearly every person or couple I work with, a version of this question comes up. Which plan do I recommend most often? Although all LTC plans are similar in how to qualify for benefits, each company and even each plan within a company carries unique attributes to that are attractive to various wants and needs of interested buyers.. This week, Diane shares different/unique characteristics offered inside hybrod life/LTC plans. The premiums can't be too high or too low compared to the competition, or one company will get far too many applicants (leading to many more...
info_outlineIt seems that with nearly every person or couple I work with, a version of this question comes up.
Which plan do I recommend most often?
Although all LTC plans are similar in how to qualify for benefits, each company and even each plan within a company carries unique attributes to that are attractive to various wants and needs of interested buyers..
This week, Diane shares different/unique characteristics offered inside hybrod life/LTC plans.
The premiums can't be too high or too low compared to the competition, or one company will get far too many applicants (leading to many more future claims) than other carriers. The lopsidedness of the financial obligations would really mess up that company's future committments.
So if premiums ar similar across the industry, each company needs its own way to attract the clients they want to attract.
Listen and learn some of the unique ways companies diffrentiate themselves.
Email me at diane@preparing4tomorrow.com and ask me for more info on hybrid LTC planning strategies.
Then schedule a phone or zoom meeting with me to design your plan here