Many people don't realize the potential danger of becoming disabled.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, you have a one in five chance of becoming disabled.

A 1997 study released by the Census Bureau reveals that more than 152 million people between the ages of 21 and 64 - the prime working ages for most Americans - have some form of disability.

According to the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), a person age 35 is six times more likely to become disabled than die before he or she reaches age 65.

With statistics like that, the need for long term disability (LTD) insurance becomes perfectly clear.

We buy homeowners insurance, though thankfully most of us will probably never experience major damage from a house fire. We buy car insurance, though most will never experience more than a minor fender bender. But what about long term care insurance? I would guess you, like many, do not have this type of insurance, even though statistically there is a much higher probability you will need long term care at some point in your life.

Choosing your health plan can be a confusing experience. The following are the things to consider when choosing your plan.

Key elements on choosing your health plan:

1) Cost vs. Benefit

How much will my monthly premiums be?
If I choose a lower premium plan, can I afford the maximum out of pocket expense if something big happens?
How often will I use the plan?
How is my family's health?
Individual/family health insurance can be declined or rated up.
Can I/Should I put my child(ren) on a different plan for better benefits?

2) Access to Care
HMO's vs. PPO/POS. HMO's usually have a greater benefit (no out of pocket cost), but are more restrictive to which doctor's you can use. PPO's offer more freedom of choice to doctor's and care, but there is no 100% coverage for PPO's. For the same benefit's, PPO's are usually more expensive.

Is my current doctor part of the plan I am choosing?
How are prescriptions/medications covered?

3) What the Brochures don't tell you
Rates and benefits only tell you so much. What they can't tell you is what doctors say about a plan, how quickly a company handles claims, how hard it is to get to a specialist and other people's experience with a certain carriers.

Like other life or health insurance, long-term care insurance costs less if you buy it earlier. The younger you are, the less expensive the policy, even when you take into consideration the longer period of time a person is paying premiums.

With over 15 years experience in the health insurance industry, we can guide you to a plan that fits your needs.