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Choosing a Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Agent

Here are some important things to determine about your prospective insurance agent.

A qualified long-term care insurance agent must be able to assist you through the clutter of company and other benefit choices. Much of the decision making process revolve around your age, health conditions and even financial suitability. In order to assist the insurance agent in finding the best long-term care insurance policy for your requirements, you need to find an insurance agent you could really trust and have a candid conversation with him/her regarding all of these matters.

Tips for choosing a qualified long-term care insurance agent

Make sure your agent is certified to sell long-term care insurance. This means that he/she has honestly taken two 8-hour certification courses within the last 24 months. If the insurance agent has been licensed for less than five years, he or she would have taken an 8-hour certification course every 12 months. Agents selling the California Partnership insurance policies would have taken an additional 8 hours of training that allows them to be a full service long-term care insurance agent in California State. Work with an insurance agent with only one particular insurance company then he or she might not be able to provide you with the best insurance plan for your unique needs.

Make sure the agent is a member of one or more of many professional organizations such as:

• AALTCI – American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance

• CAHU – California Association of Health Underwriters

• Financial Planning Association

• CAIFA – California Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

• NAIFA – National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

• PIA – Professional Insurance Agent

• IBA West – Independent Broker Association West

• Society of Financial Services Professionals

Notice if your insurance agent asks the right questions. Without knowing your financial circumstances and health status the insurance agent cannot possibly provide you with the best insurance policies choices. A competent insurance agent should be able to show you what the premium will be from several companies for insurance benefits, which fit your needs and that you can afford.
A good insurance agent would not just sell you an insurance policy but would be there to help you when you have questions, need to make changes, or have a claim. Make sure that the insurance agent you are working with has a good history and good track record in providing on-going services to his/her clients. Don’t be shy about asking for few references.

Before the agent leaves you should be provided with:

1. Outline of insurance coverage
2. Personal Insurance Worksheet
3. The Buyer’s Guide “Taking Care of Tomorrow”
4. The name, address and phone number of your local HICAP office

You should get these documents even if you don’t agree to buy an insurance policy that day.

For more informations on our services contact insurance brokers John Good | Kelly Good