Saving the sale

April 30, 2013 at 08:00 PM
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Q Selling long-term care insurance means handling many types of ­objections. Can you help me?

A Unfortunately, getting objections is part of the sales process. Kathy Camara, an agent support specialist at ACSIA and former producer, has developed several effective ways to respond. Here are her suggestions.

"My spouse is the sick one, not me."

Doctors call it "the sick killing the well." That's when a spouse takes care of the other spouse. It's hard being a caregiver and usually that role falls to the women.

I called a couple to set an appointment, but the husband would not qualify for three months because of health and the adjustment period. I told them I would call them back then. When I did, the wife had suffered a massive stroke and could not get any ­coverage. The lesson—you never know when something can happen health-wise. So write the healthy spouse now. I advised that woman incorrectly. Yes, you will pay a higher premium, but you should sign up now because we never know about our health.

"My financial planner advised me against buying LTCI coverage."

When the client's financial planner advised her that she didn't need the policy, I told her to have him put that in writing. That way, he puts his assets at risk—along with yours. He will not do it.

"My children will help me."

The only thing worse than dying is outliving your resources or calling on your children for help. "My children said I don't need it and they will take care of me." Ask them who is going to move in with whom. Being a caregiver requires special skills and training to help with bathing, dressing and personal hygiene.

"I doubt I will qualify."

Use the takeaway approach of "you won't know if you qualify until we ­apply." Many of my clients who do that, when they are approved and they know they are protected, they feel like a burden has been lifted from their shoulders.

"What if I don't need it."

If the prospects are not sure if they will ever need it, ask, Do you have homeowner, flood or windstorm damage insurance? I don't know anybody who buys LTCI who says I can't wait to use my policy.

 

"Aren't you being pushy."

It's not my intention to be ­aggressive, but it's my responsibility to help people be protected for something that could catastrophically destroy their ­family.What are you going to sell first? Does that create a taxable event, such as ­selling a rental property? Long-term care benefits are tax free—you are using ­pennies to take care of dollars.

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