| When you consider a life long relationship with a | | | | Figures for long term care insurance". Also get the |
| Long Term Care Insurance company, you want | | | | total number of Complaints for both Facility |
| to rest in the comfort of knowing that you have | | | | Coverage and for Home Care Coverage. Then |
| settled on a company with the highest possible | | | | ask for their total "Long term care insurance |
| ratings and reputation. After all, you will need | | | | Complaints Ratio" or "Long term care insurance |
| them to be there for you in a pinch when you | | | | Complaints per Million". Compare this for several |
| need to file a claim for the specified benefits. | | | | companies to get a feel for consumer confidence. |
| With a serious relationship like long term care | | | | 4. Have your long term care insurance agent |
| insurance, reliability is really, really important, don't | | | | obtain in writing the company's current A.M. Best |
| you agree? So our topic today is how to check | | | | Rating. It must be A- or above. Accept no B+ or |
| out a the long term care insurance company to | | | | lower ratings unless you have health conditions |
| make sure that they meet the highest standards. | | | | which prevent coverage with a higher rated |
| In my opinion, the safest thing to do is to work | | | | company. |
| directly with the long term care insurance Buyer's | | | | 5. If you are really serious, you can visit the |
| Advocate, because you can be assured that only | | | | Department of Insurance in person, and ask to |
| top companies and policies will be considered. | | | | see the "Rate Logs" to determine how many |
| In any case, over ten years as an observer of | | | | times, if any, a company has raised rates on any |
| the long term care insurance marketplace, I'm not | | | | group of long term care insurance poicyholders in |
| aware of even one case of fraudulent behavior | | | | your state. A history of multiple rate increases |
| by an insurance company. | | | | over more than a few years would be a red flag. |
| Still, it makes good sense to check into a long | | | | 6. Go to the Public Library - Ask reference desk |
| term care insurance company's market behavior, | | | | for insurance rating books, specifically ones like |
| history, ratings, consumer confidence and their | | | | A.M. Best, Weiss Research, S&P, Moody's, etc. |
| records with state regulatory agencies. | | | | Do this before you make your commitment to |
| 1. Call your State Department of Insurance. | | | | one company or another. Sure, it's a little work, |
| 2. Ask for Consumer Assistance. | | | | but you and your family will depend on this long |
| 3. Request data on long term care insurance | | | | term care insurance company in the caregiving |
| companies, then for each carrier you are | | | | years, and that Is a time when you want to |
| interested in, ask for the company's "Annual Sales | | | | minimize hassles. You'll be glad you did. |