Helping LGBT Individuals Get LTCI Coverage

Individuals from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community are in dire need of long term care insurance coverage. In fact, the LGBT community faces limitations not seen from other policy holders, mainly because of the slow (yet gradual) acceptance of the group to marriage, domestic rights and the like. As LTCI agents, you can help LGBT seniors and spouses get the proper care and support with these quick and informative tips.

Inform and Educate

Clarify coverage that LGBT seniors are entitled to by educating them with current facts and updates in the industry. Some points to consider when educating potential LGBT long term care insurance policy holders are:

Nursing and Care Center Considerations — although currently limited to a few options, a growing number of nursing and care elderly homes are now open to the idea of welcoming LGBT senior residents. Make sure to keep in touch with partnered nursing homes to check if they will accommodate. Better yet, you can inform the centers of the rising number of LGBT seniors — essentially hitting two birds with one stone, with support services to be offered to LGBT policy holders and nursing homes to have more residents to cater provide service to.

Paying for Long Term Care — LGBT seniors need to be informed on how they can pay for long term care and if there are any differences in paying as compared to typical policies. Medicaid can help LGBT seniors and spouses to pay for their policies, especially since a list of guidelines by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid was released to encourage more states to recognize and accept same-sex couples and their rights to spousal protection and coverage. Another way to pay for LGBT long term care is using benefits offered by The United States Department of Veterans Affairs. This is of great significance; mainly because of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that has long been practiced in the military is gone. Long term care insurance, coupled with nursing homes that advocate LGBT individuals and same-sex marriages, should always be offered as an essential way to pay for care and support by agents. In a nutshell, checking applicable states (those that recognize LGBT and same-sex marriage rights) should always be prioritized when deciding the best way to pay long term care for LGBT seniors.

The Power of Legal Definition

When helping LGBT seniors and spouses in applying for LTCI policies, clearly defining legal terms should always be highlighted. As mentioned above, agents and policy holders should always take into consideration the given state’s laws when it comes to LGBT issues. The underwriting process should always be cross-referenced with legal documents to back up LGBT seniors’ rights and wishes they expect to happen when they will receive care and support. Some documents to be referenced (and to be checked and monitored by a legal advisor) are will and testament of LGBT senior policy holders, and Power of Attorney for property, assets, and health. For additional help when it comes to legal issues for LGBT long term care insurance policy holders, please check Lambda Legal, a nonprofit group created to identify and help LGBT individuals recognize their civil rights.

Explaining the Importance of Being Covered

To further help out LGBT seniors in deciding to purchase a long term care insurance policy, agents can expound on the many benefits a plan has to offer:

Support — long term care insurance for LGBT seniors and spouses not only provides support during the twilight years but will help lessen the burden on loved ones and family members as well. Without an LTCI, potential LGBT seniors may find themselves on the short end of the stick, with benefits and protection offered in a limited fashion. One limitation is support and care coordination for children — depending on the state and the underwriting process of an LTC insurance plan, little to no support may be given to the LGBT couple’s children. A long term care insurance policy effectively allows LGBT individuals to have the peace of mind regarding the issues mentioned.

Empowerment Against Biases — speaking of LGBT limitations, long term care insurance can also help same-sex marriage and LGBT policy holders fight back against all sorts of biases. Aside from the legal and support limitations, LGBT seniors face medical and societal biases. Examples of these are little to no access to health insurance coverage (medicine, prescriptions, checkups; again, depending on state laws), nursing home hostility (if the chosen care center does not cater to same-sex marriage individuals); and societal biases such as acceptance issues which can lead to LGBT seniors being prone to conditions and disorders like alcoholism and physiological distress. Pro-LGBT long term care insurance assures LGBT policy owners that they too have a say when it comes to coverage.

LGBT seniors and spouses, just like anyone else, need to have access to coverage that will give them the support and care that they deserve. Let this guide help you not only you as agent land more sales, but, allow you to provide correct and reliable assistance to the LGBT community.