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We have engaged Forvis Mazars, LLP (Attn: Bud Hollenkamp, 1801 California Street, Ste. 2900, Denver, CO 80202) to perform member verifications. Kindly compare the balance of your accounts on your September 2024 statement WITH YOUR RECORDS. If balances do not agree, please address your discrepancies directly to Forvis Mazars, LLP. Include your name, truncated account number, and an explanation of the difference noted. A reply is not considered necessary unless a difference is noted.
ROUTING NUMBER: 307070050
By Kirtland Financial Services
Because long-term care insurance (LTCI) is a relatively new product, policies are not standardized. This can make it especially difficult to compare policies when you’re shopping for this type of insurance. However, comparing LTCI policies is a lot easier when you know what to look for and follow a few simple guidelines.
One of your first steps should be to compare and evaluate insurance companies. But since there are many companies that sell LTCI, how do you narrow the field down to a few good ones? You can start by talking to friends, family members, or anyone else you know who’s bought LTCI. How satisfied have these people been with their companies’ handling of claims and overall customer service? To learn more about company reputations, check out consumer websites and publications. You can also contact your state’s insurance department for information about different companies, such as customer complaints lodged within the last year.
In addition, there are private firms that make a business of rating insurance companies, usually on a letter-grade scale. Some of the well-known rating service firms are A. M. Best, Moody’s, The Street.com (formerly Weiss), Fitch, and Standard& Poor’s. You can contact one of these firms directly, though their ratings may be available at your local public library. The ratings are typically based on a company’s financial strength and other factors. Financial strength is particularly important because it tells you whether a company is likely to meet its future claims payments and other obligations.
As mentioned, there is no standard LTCI policy or contract–specific benefits and features often vary widely from one policy to another. That’s why detailed policy comparisons are more important with LTCI than with any other type of insurance. Once you’ve narrowed your list of insurance companies down to a few (e.g., three or four), ask each company for some sample policies to review. Each sample should include an Outline of Coverage section at the beginning of the policy. This section briefly summarizes the policy’s benefits and highlights the major features. After you read this section, read through the entire policy to make sure you understand all of the provisions. Here are some key items to look for:
How do the policies you’re considering stack up against each other? Which benefits and features mean the most to you? How much can you customize each policy to your needs? These are very important questions. Knowing how to evaluate LTCI coverage in light of your own needs is the key to comparing and weeding out policies. Your final list of policies should include only ones that can offer exactly what you’re looking for.
Because LTCI policies vary so much, simple premium comparisons usually don’t provide useful results. You run the risk of comparing premiums for policies that don’t provide comparable coverage. For example, suppose you’re comparing two LTCI policies with different premiums. If the more expensive policy has a larger daily benefit and longer benefit period, it may be difficult to tell which policy is the better buy. Variations in the length of the elimination period and other features may further muddy the waters. The point is that you want a policy that gives you the best total value, and the premium is only one part of the equation.
Still, the premium is important because you don’t want to pay more for coverage than you have to. And you want to be sure you can afford the premiums as time goes on. Once you know your coverage needs and find a few policies that offer a good fit, you should then compare premiums. The price of an LTCI policy typically depends on the specifics of the coverage, your age at the time you buy the policy (most companies won’t sell you a policy if you’re under 40 or over 84), your medical history, the cost of long- term care where you live, and other factors. Note that premiums may vary widely between companies, even for policies that provide comparable coverage. The more similar the policies you’re comparing, the more the premium will tell you about a policy’s true value.
Because LTCI is complicated, comparing and evaluating policies is no easy task. You can do it alone if you choose, but you’re probably better off getting professional help. A qualified insurance professional, or financial professional, such as the Wealth Management Advisors with Kirtland Financial Services, can assist you with this entire process. To find the right person to help you, seek word-of-mouth references and be very selective.
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly.
The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax planning or legal advice. We suggest that you consult with a qualified tax or legal professional.
LPL Financial Representatives offer access to Trust Services through The Private Trust Company N.A., an affiliate of LPL Financial.
Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Kirtland Federal Credit Union and Kirtland Financial Services are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Kirtland Financial Services, and may also be employees of Kirtland Federal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Kirtland Federal Credit Union or Kirtland Financial Services. Securities and insurances offered through LPL or its affiliates are:
Not NCUA Insured or Any Other Government | No Credit Union Guaranteed | Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations | May Lose Value |
The LPL Financial registered representatives associated with this website may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.
Kirtland Federal Credit Union (“Financial Institution”) provides referrals to financial professionals of LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) pursuant to an agreement that allows LPL to pay the Financial Institution for these referrals. This creates an incentive for the Financial Institution to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. The Financial Institution is not a current client of LPL for advisory services.
Please visit https://www.lpl.com/disclosures/is-lpl-relationship-disclosure.html for more detailed information.
CRPC®️ conferred by College for Financial Planning.
Routing Number: 307070050
6440 Gibson Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
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