If Long Term Care insurance isn't a part of your retirement planning, now is the time to think about it. What happens if you need skilled care—the kind provided by nursing homes, assisted living centers, or from home health care aids? Who pays? Your health insurance doesn't. Medicare doesn't help either. The only way to protect your assets if you need skilled care is with Long Term Care insurance.

Just as general health care costs rise with regularity, so do the costs of extended care. According to federal government statistics, it increases five percent per year. A MetLife 2005 study indicated the average yearly costs for a semi-private room in a nursing home is $64,000 and the cost in Seattle is nearly 15% higher than national norms. According to the government, in 20 years this amount will triple.

Assisted living arrangements cost less, but the care is far more restricted. Home health care costs less, too. Even at the national average of $19 per hour—nearly $26 an hour in Seattle—you can see how quickly that cost could add up on an annual basis.

Long term care insurance is a way to cover those costs. Our consultants are here to help you do that—to understand and select a policy. It's never too early to think about such a vital part of your portfolio. In fact, the younger you are when you begin coverage, the lower your premiums will be.

Take the time now to contact us. You'll have the added benefit of peace of mind when you know you've protected your assets and those of your family.

Call (206) 728-1314 or send e-mail to info@lhui.com.