Retirement is one of the hardest planning functions of our working lives.  What do we plan for?  How much do we set aside?  What approach will provide the best understanding of the cost-of-living expenses that are unknown today?  While we are moving in unchartered territory working through this thought process on a personal level, there is always room to discover a prudent plan of action. First, I have identified the most common approach to retirement planning.  The three basics being utilized today are:1) I need enough money for my day-to-day expenses 2) I want to set money aside to leave to my Heirs and 3) I want to check off items on my bucket list. The most common approach does not address health care cost.  If you do not include this in your plan you take from other parts of your plan, and it may be too late for adjusting for health care.  Do not bankrupt your retirement.  Do your planning right.  Get your review today!  Get on the right path!  Editors Note: This article was submitted by Jennifer L Erickson with AAA Medicaid Consulting. She may be reached at 719-459-2519. 

So, lets for a moment imagine a health care crisis that brings out the best in a tough situation.  What might that look like?  Or, better yet what COULD that look like?  Does this crisis need to be bad?  Can good come out of this?  If so, how?  I am not sure if these are thoughts that are common when experiencing a health care crisis, but they could be.  Can this balance be obtained?  The answer is yes.  If effective strategies can be demonstrated prior to any health care crisis and practiced there is a chance that a better outcome even in a difficult situation can be achieved.First, identify the team.  Who will be responsible for speaking in a crisis and make sure everyone involved in speaking on your behalf has a backup.  Second, review all resources for access.  Resources are considered assets.  Anything that is of value such as your Home and financial resources.  This is a sample of the pre planning thought process that can make a difference.  More often than not a common crisis that is planned for in society is a fire or flood which usually ends up being called an emergency.  You have insurance that covers your home burning down and flood insurance if you are in a flood zone.  Health care provides the same but in most cases people will know their insurance deductible on a vehicle or home before a health insurance deductible or how the insurance performs.  When you get in an accident with your vehicle you know how to report it to the police, file a claim with your agent and get a bid on the work that needs to be completed to repair the vehicle if possible.  If someone damages your home or a weather event occurs you know to contact your agent and go over what is needed.  When buying auto and home policies most folks understand the policy.A health care crisis does not wait for you to have paid the same attention to your health insurance that you did for your auto and homeowners insurance.  Do you call your Medicare or Private Insurer when a health care crisis appears?  The stakes are higher and so are the bills in most cases.  Without a plan, or understanding of resources available the crisis becomes chaotic and overwhelming very quickly.  It is in these moments that your planning or lack of will set the course for the outcome.  I believe that at first diagnosis of any health concern is when the timer should begin on getting organized.  Lets face it no one thinks this way because it is depressing and sad.  To plan for an emergency is easier than that of a loved one or yourself suffering from poor health or an accident.  A health care crisis demands our full attention on many levels.  The stress can be reduced by having the team conversations and access.I have worked on strategies to take full advantage of your options when creating a plan.  I have seen families come together and work together creating a working environment no matter the severity of the matter.  I believe that being proactive is better than being reactive in a health care crisis.  I feel that when we drive a vehicle, we are prepared for anything happening and the expectation of accessing insurance.  Health care should be just as organized.  I can help you understand this approach and guide you to a better understanding of how you should approach your Home and Health Financial Future!

There are very few times in our lives where we fail to plan for the future. Before we are born our supplies and living arrangements are planned and the joyous event takes place, we are born..  From infancy all our steps are arranged. From there, we continue forward with schooling, coming of age and careers.  As we grow, we continue to plan for our futures and eventually retirement.  It is in this latter planning where sometimes plans are not as strong as they once were or could have been. Life is unpredictable as we all know and in some cases a health care crisis can change the entire tone of our futures we have planned.  I can provide Home and Health Financial Planning before, during and after this crisis to make a difference.  Make your appointment today! Editors Note: This article was submitted by Jennifer L Erickson with AAA Medicaid Consulting. She may be reached at 719-459-2519 

There are very few times in our lives where we fail to plan for the future. Before we are born our supplies and living arrangements are planned and the joyous event takes place, we are born.  From infancy all our steps are arranged. From there, we continue forward with schooling, coming of age and careers.  Throughout the years as we grow, we continue to plan for our futures and eventually retirement.  It is in this latter planning where sometimes plans are not a strong as they once were or could have been.Most of us do not live our lives planning for the worst but instead have high hopes for our futures.  Life is unpredictable as we all know and in some cases a health care crisis can change the entire tone of our futures we have planned.  Being unprepared in this type of crisis can be costly and can even bankrupt any and all plans we have laid down.  Only when we arrive on the doorstep of a health care crisis do we fully realize how well we have planned.Private insurance is for when we are in our working lives, and Medicare for when we retire. How does a person transition from their working life through a health care crisis right before Medicare?  How do I pay my bills?  Where does my income come from if I am not yet of the age for retirement?  These questions are valid and should be addressed long before any type of crisis arises. Home and Health Financial Planning is a new way of answering these questions.  There are many ways to look at a situation.   Depending on the diagnosis, there is a timeline usually accompanying the news and a course of treatment follows but, in most cases, we look to our insurance to handle most of the concerns.There are ways in which to access public programs that can leverage the financial burden of high costs for care. We should explore these avenues and be proactive in our understanding of what is available. By the time you or your loved one is in the hospital it could be too late for a financial review.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Jennifer Erikson with AAA Medicaid Consulting, Inc. For more information she may be reached at 719-459-2519 or email jerick8712@aol.com