Re: DST

On Mar 13, 11:42 am, dpb <n...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Swingman wrote:


Unfortunately, LTC insurance is out of the financial reach of many, if not
most, of the folks in this country, is poorly understood, and ripe with
potential fraud.


All too true. With the cost of college for the 2.3 kids, vehicles,
gas and everything else that goes up daily (but not our pay or wages)
it will continue to get even farther out of reach for the vanishing
middle class.


I'd venture not out of the reach of most partaking of this group and
like anything else does need care in choosing a reputable vendor. It
does, of course, require a personal commitment to use some funds for
something other than short term gratification.

Be careful with your assumptions. You don't know how many here are
helping others along with that suffer broken marriages, college costs,
hardship from lost jobs, illness, etc.

My parents never did any of those things, but they didn't spend their
money on porn, cigarettes, vacations or new cars, either. My mom was
a stay at home mother for years and effectively never had a career.
My father had his first major stroke at 59, the shortly after was
diagnosed with Hodgkin's non-lymphoma. At 59. And he never saw it
coming.

He was unable to work for about a year, and then infrequently after
that. He killed their savings keeping things paid and has continued
to do so as needed since that time.

He has been fully retired since he was 62, unable to work due to
stroke complications. He and my mother have been living ONLY social
security and his small little savings for almost 20 years. Longer if
you count in the stroke time off. That tough old *** should have
been dead 10-15 years ago. But instead he has paid all his property
taxes, medical co- pays, medicare/medicaid "no" pays, his utilities,
car payments, insurance, groceries, clothes, etc. for two people, all
on social security for 20 years.

Instant gratification for that man is seeing his grandkids.

He is a model of economic thrift as through all of his trials and
tribulations, he has never had to ask any of us for money. But they
have one old car, don't go out to eat but once a month or so, their
little house hasn't had any major improvements in about 30 years (just
my repairs), and they haven't gone anywhere on a trip or vacation in
almost 30. Most of the time, he is tighter than a top on a banjo.

When my father's illnesses came together almost 25 years ago, you
could not get insurance if you were sick or ill. Now of course, they
have to at least give you a quote, so they make it so far out of reach
no one can afford to buy it. End result: same. It was a wonderful
thing when he was able to get medicare/medicaid. He lived in fear of
losing his house, and I was afraid for him as well.

I used to get a lot of leads from a hardware store here. The owner
was "The Happy Handyman" and he had a radio show and a couple of books
out. He is 84, and most of his clients are "vintage". I learned a
lot about elderly, near elderly, and the sick from the clients I got
from his referral program.

Planning is really great, but life's unexpected turns suck.

I had plenty of clients that had me repair their homes after their
spouse died as they were able to pay medical bills off with life
insurance. I had a lot of clients that barely had any money to pay
me, and the only repairs/remodel they had me do was the barest
minimum. It kills me to hear stories of a spouse that has been taking
care of their husband or wife for 30 years since come illness, a car
wreck, or some degenerative disease hits.

A few years ago I found a new respect and understanding for those in
that position, as I understood that their world wasn't just black or
white. I know too, that many would have done anything at their
disposal to keep from winding up as they were.

As in any insurance, it's expensive unless and until you need it.

All too true. But as the saying goes, if you ain't got it, you ain't
got it.

Robert

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