Rheumatoid Arthritis & Increased Heart Disease Risk

Studies have shown that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your risk of developing heart disease is two to three times higher than people who do not have the disorder. RA is an inflammatory disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy joints, causing symptoms that may include pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of physical function. RA leads to poor quality of life and a higher risk of needing long-term care services. 

RA often starts in middle age according to the National Institute of Health and is most common in older people. Dr. Rekha Mankad, Cardiovascular Diseases at Mayo Clinic, explains the connection between RA and heart issues - read by clicking here.  

The Arthritis Foundation suggests two factors lead those with RA to have a higher risk of heart issues - chronic inflammation and shared risk factors. 

These include conditions like:

• High Blood Pressure
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity 
• Smoking

There are several ways to reduce this risk. You can find these suggestions on the Arthritis Foundation website by clicking here. 

Aging and Health Lead to Long-Term Care Risk

The financial costs and burdens of aging is a big risk to your retirement savings. People require long-term care services due to illnesses, accidents, or the impact of getting older. This care is generally not paid for by health insurance or Medicare. Affordable Long-Term Care Insurance provides you with access to your choice of quality care either in your own home or in a facility. 

Without Long-Term Care Insurance, either your family members will become caregivers, or you will use your own savings to pay for this every experience care. Neither option seems like a great plan for most American families. 

Plan Early and Protect Your Future Retirement

Experts suggest planning before you retire, ideally in your 40s or 50s, before significant health issues make it either more expensive or impossible to obtain this vital coverage. 

If you have RA and it is well managed, you may still be eligible to purchase Long-Term Care Insurance. RA will be a red flag for underwriters depending on your medications and the advancement of the condition. If you already have cardiac problems with the RA, your chance of obtaining coverage is reduced. 

Health Issues May Lead to Declined Coverage

Generally, you want to plan before health issues happen. As you get older, the chance of being declined for coverage increases. An experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist will review your health and hopefully find an insurance company that will offer you coverage.

Before you retire, protect your assets, including your 401k, IRA and other savings from the high cost of medical care … much of it in older age comes from long-term care services that are not covered by health insurance or Medicare.

LTC NEWS Tools Help in Research

Start your research by using the tools available on LTC NEWS. Find the resources available by clicking here. 

It would help if you had an expert on your side when researching, shopping, and design a Long-Term Care policy. Most financial advisors and general insurance agents lack expertise in this area.

Find a qualified and trusted Long-Term Care Insurance specialist by clicking here. 

Long-Term Care Insurance is affordable asset protection. However, it is more than just asset protection. It provides resources to help your family have the time to be family. Family caregivers face stress and other burdens when forced into being a caregiver for a loved one.

Provide your family, and yourself, with peace-of-mind so you can enjoy a future successful retirement.