It’s not alarmist to think that you’ll need long-term care in your lifetime. Among Americans who reach their 65th birthday, 45% will have to pay for some kind of long-term-care services, according to the actuarial firm Milliman.  Read More →

You may think of private nurses as a luxury for the ultra-rich, like a butler or personal chauffeur. But hiring in-house medical care has become an increasingly viable option for regular folks too.  Read More →

Some insurance decisions are easy. Take life insurance. You know you need it to replace the income your spouse and kids would lose if you died. Insurers don’t have much leeway to dispute claims for death benefits because “deceased” is a pretty definite condition.  Read More →

Health insurance premiums in 2007 rose 6.1 percent, the lowest growth rate in eight years but still well above inflation and worker earnings, according to the latest annual survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.  Read More →

Small business owners Gordon and Babette Brennan used to pay as much as $800 a month for health insurance. But the Jupiter, Fla. couple felt like they received little in return: Claims for ordinary pediatrician visits for their son Ryan were denied. Procedures like blood tests weren’t covered. Co-pays were $40 a pop.  Read More →

The floods and rain in the Midwest continue to cause severe problems there. We spoke with one family whose home was destroyed by a mudslide.  Read More →

The devastation in Florida could happen anywhere. Here’s what you need to know about your homeowners’ insurance.  Read More →

By now you know that you need to keep tabs on your credit history to make a good impression on lenders, landlords and employers. But did you know that your home and auto insurers are also looking?  Read More →

Consumers have to be vigilant when it comes to unraveling billing mistakes.  Read More →

You’ve no doubt seen those AXA Equitable commercials in which an 800-pound gorilla advises a couple nearing retirement to consider annuities as a way to guarantee income for the rest of their lives.  Read More →

Earlier this week, we told you how to cut your fees. Now, how to save more money on your insurance.  Read More →

When Medicare began offering Part D prescription drug coverage for the first time this year, seniors had six months to sort through the chaos – and it was chaos – to pick a plan.  Read More →

It’s no surprise that healthcare costs are soaring. The cost of a nursing home today is about $71,000 annually, or about $200 a day. The cost for assisted living is about $32,000 a year or $88 dollars a day.  Read More →

QUESTION: I’m single, in my 30s and I’m already maxing out my 401(k) and IRA account. My financial planner is recommending I purchase a variable universal life policy, the rationale being that I have exhausted all of my other tax-advantaged investment opportunities. I trust my adviser, but I don’t understand whether a variable universal life policy is really a good deal. What do you think? George K., Hartford, Conn.  Read More →

I consider myself financially savvy, so when my husband told me that our beautiful, 200-year-old red oak had fallen during a rainstorm while I was away, I was sad but not worried.  Read More →