I can't afford LTC & I'll never qualify for Medicaid
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Release Date: 12/11/2025
48% increase in cost of care from 2019-2024
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
According to an AARP report, the Department of Health and Human Services reported a 48% increase in cost for home care and assisted living from 2019-2024, while median household income for families 65 and older rose only 22%. That's an average 8% annual increase! And people doubt when we use 5% annual increases to project future needs.... View a summary of the report See what current and projected cost of care where you live at Then schedule with me to learn how you can protect your family, assets and choices
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Don't let them scam you or your parents
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
This week, I received a very disturbing call, and this was soon after I met a man whose job is to protect people (mostly seniors) from scams. I'm so glad that a woman reached out to me for guidance before spending over half of her mom's little bit of savings she needed for her care. Listen and learn, then schedule time with me to prepare for your tomorrow. When we're prepared, we're less likely to be tricked. The 2025 Cost of Care report is available so you can see both 2025 costs and projected costs of care where you live. Check it out BTW, home care costs increased by 13% across the country...
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We need to plan like the sun will come up tomorrow morning
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
We need to believe that we're going to get through these world events that are being thrown at us every day. We have to believe that we're going to live a long life. When we live a long life, we get old, and when we get old we need help. The massage today is short, and I hope it encourages each of you to continue planning to protect those you care about most. The new 2025 Cost of Care updates were released thjis week and you can see current nd projectewd costs where you live We're seeing a 13% increase in home care costs across the country. If we want o stay home when we need help...
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If I can't get what I want, I don't want anything
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Just like when we go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, our eyes are bigger than our stomach. With LTC protection, bigger than our budget. We want the best policy that will pay for everything we need for as long as we need care, but our income and savings say we can afford something with less coverage. Or we apply as a couple and one is declined for health. Does this mean we don't get any coverage at all? No! It means we get as much as we can afford for the duration of premiums. If half of our expenses are paid for with insurance, that's using our own assets and income to pay the other half...
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My clients need me 25 years before they think they need me
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
I get so many calls from families trying to find caregiving support answers for their older parent or relative. They've reached a point where they are overwhelmed and need help providing for their loved one. This is not the time to look for insurance. The choices are limited and have higher costs because at age 75 or 80, we're close to or at the age when the insurance companies think we'll open a claim. That parent should have considered LTC funding options at 50 or 55. But 50 and 55 year olds too often believe we'll be in the same health mentally and physically at 75 or 80, and that's usually...
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Please share this with someone you love
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Many people inquire about LTC insurance and unfortunately get incorrect or incomplete information. This is why it's important to work with a LTC Planning Specialist, like me, who studies this continually. Years ago, there were a lot more companies offering LTC insurance, but all the plans looked and worked very similarly. Today, there are less companies offering this insurance, but these companies are each offering more unique ways to design and fund plans to meet more needs. Listen to these podcast episodes and arm yourself with the questions you need to ask when designing your plan. You...
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7.8 Million professional caregivers needed in next 25 years!
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Providing care for a very sick, injured or elderly family member is hard! Especially without help. There are currently over 50 million family caregivers sacrificing their time, family, health and future to provide that care. LTC insurance is not designed to replace you; it's there to help you be able to help without hurting yourself or getting overwhelmed from doing it alone. Who is going to pay for those 7.8 million licensed care providers as the Baby Boomer generation reaches 80 this year and continues to age? It's either us, our family, or the government. Part of "us" is LTC insurance - so...
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Guest Interview: Jason Dutra shares Worksite LTC case study 4 employees
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Jason Dutra with BuddyIns joins us this week to share a case study on worksite LTC benefits. There are companies that will offer guaranteed issue (no health questions) hybrid life/LTC plans to a company with as few as 3 employees. Listen and learn if this is a tool you would like to offer, or that you would like your employer to offer. Then schedule an introductory meeting with me to discuss options for your company If you'd like to learn more first, use this link to research at BuddyIns You can schedule a meeting with Jason by submitting a referral at the top right of the page. Please...
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What is discussed in our first meeting?
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Hello to all our new and returning listeners! Because we've had a large increase in listeners, I thought I'd share what we discuss during our initial consultation (which costs you only time). It's good for long time listeners to get a refresher as well. Our first meeting, via phone or Zoom and sometmes in person, is mostly educational. It's impossible to make a decision on something as important as preparing for futue extended care needs unless we understand what we are deciding. LTC insurance is not for everyone. It must fit in with the rest of your retirement plan in order to protect...
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Back to the Basics of Long Term Care
Preparing For Tomorrow podcast
Because we have so many new listeners, we decided to get back to the basics of long term care and LTC insurance. The best starting point is to learn current and future costs of home care, assisted living, and nursing home care. Use the cost of care website to find costs where you live at Once we understand the risk we're up against if we suffer from dementia, a stroke or a severe car accident (for example), we need to decide where we would want to live when help is needed to get through our days. We need to consider who we want to have helping us, and we need to decide how we're...
info_outlineThat 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 you'll be living when retired, use https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care
Be sure to use 5% inflation when looking at future costs as that is the inflation growth we've seen over the last three decades.
Then, schedule some time with me to learn what kinds of plans can be available to help pay for your potential needs without breaking the bank.
Schedule here