Business, Free News Articles, Insurance

ACSIA Partners Seeks 150 New Agents to Serve Growing Segments of Its Long-Term Care Planning Business

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- The long-term care insurance market seems to be in turmoil thanks to rate increases, waning consumer demand, and carriers exiting the business. Pessimism prevails, but not for ACSIA Partners, one of America's largest long-term care insurance agencies. The company is quite bullish, in fact. "We're looking for 150 new agents," says Denise Gott, CEO. "We need them right now to handle current need and projected demand." What's going on?

The company is not immune to the industry turmoil. "Our traditional business, individual LTC insurance, has temporarily levelled off," she says, "but it's still substantial and continuing; and two new segments are surging: hybrid care solutions and worksite plans."

Hybrid solutions are annuities or life insurance policies with long-term care riders. They are based on tangible assets that may be tapped to pay for care when needed. This has several advantages that make them attractive buys:
* Premiums can never increase.
* Benefits cannot change.
* Funds not used for long-term care go to beneficiaries tax-free.

Also, "It's easy to add a care rider to instruments the client needs anyway, like a life policy or annuity," says Gott.

Worksite plans are group or multi-life plans that offer long-term care protection as an employee benefit. "They're in demand because they appeal to both the company and the employee," says Gott.
* The plans bolster employee effectiveness and earning power. In the absence of LTC plans, long term care issues cost American industry $29 billion annually in lost productivity, according to a study by the MetLife Mature Market Institute. And employees jeopardize their income when they have to assume care duties.
* The plans offer multiple tax benefits. Premiums can be 100% tax-deductible to a business. For employees, premiums are not considered income, and the benefits received are generally tax-free.
* Economies of scale simplify everything. For example, there is relaxed health screening; and group rates keep premium costs down.

"Advantages like these make worksite LTC a no-brainer," says Gott. "And we think it could become as common as group healthcare, which has become the norm for most employers."

"Overall, for businesses as well as families, the need for LTC solutions is enormous," says Gott. "That's why we're so bullish."

Also, Gott predicts that the traditional LTC insurance business will start growing again fairly soon. "There are products out there, already developed, but sitting on carriers' shelves because the near-zero interest rate environment makes them uneconomic. As soon as interest rates start going up again, it's a whole new ballgame."

"So we're looking for 150 senior solutions agents to join us in serving this large and growing market." Information for candidates is available at https://www.acsiapartners.com/career-center/.

For employers interested in group protection for their employees, information is available at https://www.acsiapartners.com/business-owners/.

Information for consumers is available at https://www.acsiapartners.com/consumers/.

About ACSIA Partners LLC:

ACSIA Partners LLC -- https://www.acsiapartners.com -- serves organizations as well as families in all states. The company is also a co-founder and sponsor of the "3in4 Need More" campaign, which encourages Americans to form a long-term care plan.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Free News Articles, Insurance, Real Estate

Uninsured Long-Term Care Is ‘Eating’ Real Estate by the Square Foot, ACSIA Partners LLC Reports

-- The cost of care for aging Americans may be viewed as a glutton that devours homes in daily bites that are getting bigger. So says Denise Gott, CEO of ACSIA Partners, one of America's largest long-term care insurance agencies.

"Eleven years ago we started translating long-term care costs into square feet of real estate," says Gott. "We did this to highlight the financial burden of paying for care."

In July of 2005 the company calculated that the cost for a private room in a nursing home was "eating" two square feet of the average American home each day. Now the bites are 29 percent bigger, 2.6 square feet, according to Gott.

ACSIA Partners developed the estimate based on the following facts:

The national average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is now $92,376, according to the Genworth 2016 Cost of Care Survey, conducted by CareScout(r). That's about $253 a day, up from $192 in 2005.

The National Association of Realtors(r) reports that the median price for U.S. homes is now $240,200. With a median 2,476 square feet per home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that equals $97 per square foot, enough to pay for about a third of a day of nursing home care. In 2005, each square foot paid for about half a day, according to Gott.

The ratios vary by region and home type, of course. Here are some examples:
* 4,000 square-foot home in San Francisco, Calif., $1,800,000: 0.56 square feet eaten by one day of long-term care
* 1,902 square-foot home in Cleveland, Ohio, $150,000: 3.21 square feet eaten by one day of long-term care
* 1,328 square-foot home in Jamestown, N.Y., $65,000: 5.17 square feet eaten by one day of long-term care

Note that the less a home is worth, the bigger the relative LTC bite may be. For example, consider a 1,532 square-foot home for sale at $15,000 in Trenton, N.J. It would be "eaten" at the rate of 25.85 square feet a day. Note also that these estimates are very general. For example, in areas where homes cost more, the cost for LTC services may also be higher.

"If you're not protected by insurance or savings," says Gott, "figure that for every day someone in your family needs care, there goes another chunk of your home."

In fact, many Americans may be planning, by default, to pay for care with their home equity, Gott observes. "That's fine if it's a conscious choice and the best option in their case. We recommend, however, that they explore other options just to be sure."

The options recommended by Gott's organization include long-term care insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance or annuities with long-term care riders, and other solutions ranging from health savings accounts to Medicare supplement plans.

Information is available at https://www.acsiapartners.com/quote/.

ACSIA Partners LLC -- https://www.acsiapartners.com -- serves organizations as well as families. The company is also a co-founder and sponsor of the "3in4 Need More" campaign -- http://www.3in4needmore.com/ -- which encourages Americans to form a long-term care plan.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Alliances and Partnerships, Free News Articles, Insurance, Long Term Care

To Protect More of Us, ACSIA Partners Adds Tools from OneAmerica® to Its Long-Term Care Solutions Arsenal

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- As the cost of long-term care (LTC) continues to rise, the ability to pay for it becomes more critical. But LTC protection is carried by only about 10 percent of those who could benefit from it, according to industry estimates. To serve a larger percentage, ACSIA Partners is expanding its asset-based LTC offerings by representing an A+ rated* insurance and financial service organization, OneAmerica(R).

Unlike traditional LTC insurance, OneAmerica Care Solutions(R) are based on tangible assets (life insurance or annuities) that may be tapped to pay for care when needed. "While traditional policies are right for many people," says Denise Gott, CEO of ACSIA Partners, "asset-based alternatives from OneAmerica will appeal to many others."

Why? She offers four key reasons:
• "Premiums can never increase and benefits cannot change."
• "If you stay fit until the end, your money isn't lost. Funds not used for long-term care go to your beneficiaries tax-free."
• "You can access funds if you need them for any purpose."
• "It's an option for those who don't qualify for traditional LTC insurance, for health or other reasons."

OneAmerica Care Solutions(R) are now available through state-certified LTC insurance agents with ACSIA Partners in all parts of the United States. These products include annuities and life insurance as well as asset-based LTC solutions.

"Joining forces with OneAmerica provides our agents with a wider selection of much-needed products," says Gott, "and we expect to serve a broadening range of consumer and worksite clients." ACSIA Partners also represents several other leading insurance carriers.

Both ACSIA Partners and OneAmerica have a strong reputation of integrity and service within the financial services industry.

"Financial professionals and consumers alike are gravitating toward asset-based long-term care solutions as a means to mitigate long-term care risk and create stronger retirement strategies," says Pat Foley, CLU, ChFC, President, Individual Life and Financial Services at OneAmerica. "Promoting these products through ACSIA Partners is an ideal way to help financial professionals offer the versatile solutions their clients are seeking."

For information or product quotes, visit ACSIA Partners at https://www.acsiapartners.com/quote/.

To handle an increasing load of business, ACSIA Partners is seeking relationships with independent LTC agents and agencies in all states. Visit https://www.acsiapartners.com/career-center/.

About ACSIA Partners:
ACSIA Partners LLC -- https://www.acsiapartners.com/ -- is one of America's largest and most experienced long-term care insurance agencies serving families and organizations throughout America. The company is also a co-founder and sponsor of the "3in4 Need More" campaign, which encourages Americans to form a long-term care plan.

About OneAmerica(R):
A national leader in the insurance and financial services marketplace for nearly 140 years, the companies of OneAmerica help customers build and protect their financial futures.

OneAmerica offers a variety of products and services to serve the financial needs of their policyholders and customers. These products include retirement plan products and record keeping services, individual life insurance, annuities, asset-based long-term care solutions and employee benefit plan products.

Products are issued and underwritten by the companies of OneAmerica and distributed through a nationwide network of employees, agents, brokers and other sources that are committed to providing value to our customers.

To learn more about our products, services and the companies of OneAmerica, visit https://www.OneAmerica.com/companies.

OneAmerica is the marketing name for The State Life Insurance Company(R) (State Life). Products issued and underwritten by State Life, Indianapolis, Ind., a OneAmerica company that offers the Care Solutions product suite.

*On July 28, 2016, State Life was rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best. This is the second highest of 16 possible ratings assigned by the agency.

ACSIA Partners is not an affiliate of State Life and is not a OneAmerica company.

This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.

Free News Articles, Insurance

Pay for Long-Term Care Insurance with a Health Savings Account, ACSIA Partners Suggests

KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Many Americans realize they need long-term care insurance, but balk at the premiums. "Now there's an easy way to pay," says Denise Gott, CEO of ACSIA Partners. "Just use some of the money that's already in your Health Savings Account."

Millions of Americans have such accounts, and millions more may open them. To be eligible, you must first have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged savings accounts designed specifically for HDHP policyholders. HSAs are restricted to health-related purposes. With some limitations, funds may be withdrawn tax-free to pay for deductibles, co-insurance, dental and vision care, and other items. These other items include long-term care and premiums for long-term care insurance.

There are two key advantages. The first is paying for LTC premiums with pre-tax dollars (within limits based on age). The second is convenience: tapping funds one has already set aside.

"It's a shame so few people know about this," says Gott. "We're spreading the word through our business partners and to the public directly."

HSAs have proved popular since their introduction in 2004. Within two years there were 3 million accounts, and by mid-2016 there were more than 18 million, according to the 2016 Midyear Devenir HSA Research Report from Devenir. Double-digit growth is projected for 2017, 2018, and beyond.

"In the years ahead, HSAs promise to be an increasingly important tool for the health and wellbeing of our longer-living population," says Gott.

Most Americans can participate if they have or if they obtain an HDHP. However, those already covered by government health benefits -- through Medicare or Medicaid, for example -- are generally not eligible. You can open an HSA with a bank, credit union, insurance company, or other approved organization. Employers may also set up plans for their employees.

ACSIA Partners has agents throughout the country who are glad to answer questions. "Depending on your circumstances, long-term care insurance may or may not be the best solution for you," says Gott. "And the possible role of an HSA depends on your circumstances too. For example, some people may choose to pay some of their care costs directly from their HSA, and the balance from an LTC policy paid for with HSA dollars."

ACSIA Partners LLC -- https://www.acsiapartners.com/ -- is one of America's largest and most experienced long-term care insurance agencies serving families and organizations throughout America. The company is also a co-founder and sponsor of the "3in4 Need More" campaign, which encourages Americans to form a long-term care plan.

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This news story was published by the Neotrope® News Network - all rights reserved.