A Whole New Meaning

Dismayed By LTCIs Low Priority

To The Editor:

Re: “Employees Are Resilient Insurance Consumers” (April 12), it is dismaying to see long-term care insurance ranked next to the bottom in priority by employees in a 9-insurance postup. Even dental insurance and vision insurance ranked higher. Long term care is a lifestyle breaker; 50% of persons needing LTC are destitute after the first year of care, 90% after the second year. LTCI is bought with good health and is relatively easily affordable for employees purchasing it in their 40s and 50s.

This study supports the conclusion voiced by national observers that Americans by and large are not planning and preparing for retirement. Older employees will come to a frightening realization down the road. Theyll be told then, “Too late now to plan.” This explains why LTCI salespeople frequently get that “deer-in-the-headlight” look from prospects when they pose the question, “What are your plans for when your health fails?”