Testimonials

The following are true stories and testimonials, and not paid endorsements:

I recognize the odds of needing long-term care are high.  I can afford to pay the cost of this care if I need it, however I love my kids and would like to leave something for them if possible. My long-term care insurance will enable me to leave something for my kids and choose whatever type of care I want.  I am a professional who works with the elderly and am aware of some of the difficulties some clients have recently had to face. These are the most uncertain times I can remember. I know people who had saved properly and invested conservatively, yet now their incomes are lower then projected while expenses have unfortunately increased. Sadly, they’ve had to downsize their lifestyle in order to accommodate these unexpected circumstances.   Thanks for your expertise and patience helping me make a proper choice in a long-term care policy. Owning LTCi gives me great peace of mind. ~ Carol B, Houston, TX, June 2010

Thank you for still being available, ten years after our purchase of LTC coverage from you, and also for your prompt, competent, and successful intervention on our behalf to correct an error on the part of the insurance carrier. ~ Bob Black, Bellaire, TX, January 2010

Carl and I are so glad we made the decision to purchase LTCI almost 10 years ago! Buying LTC definitely was one of our better business decisions. ~ Kathy G, Houston, TX, October 2009

Thanks, Honey, for keeping in contact.  We are still in good health, and hoping to stay so.  Having you nearby, is very reassuring - someone real who cares.  Thanks for all you do for all of us.  ~ Helen and Larry Misiak, February, 2010

We continue to recommend you and encourage everyone to purchase long term care. Buying it is one of the best financial decisions we ever made, especially now that we have family and friends in facilities and they are struggling financially because they did not. ~ Carolyn, Missouri City, TX, December 2009

I don’t know if you remember the details, but after Ed and I got our policies from you, we tried to get a policy for my 78 year old mother in Tennessee. Your friend Tom in Tennessee wrote the policy, we paid on it for 3-4 years. My mother, now 85 years old, has been in Assisted Living for nearly 3 years. We are so thankful for her LTC insurance. The benefits have been incredible! ~ Paulette S, Sugar Land, TX, December 2009

Buying LTC is the best thing Ginger and I have done for ourselves as well as our family.  If anyone is in doubt tell them to call us. ~ Phillip R. Pampolina, PRP Entertainment Company, Houston, TX

Buying our LTC policies from you was the smartest healthcare decision we've ever made. I try to tell people about the need for this insurance but it's difficult for them to see it, especially now.

It gives us peace of mind knowing that if we need financial help for long term care we have the best there is, purchased from the best expert in the field there is. ~ Mickey S, Houston, TX, September 2009

The policy you sold my husband and me in 1998 is now paying for home health care that is making a big difference for me. 

I would probably not have elected to have a caregiver if I didn't own long-term care insurance. I like my caregiver. She is making my life much easier and taking a big load off of my husband, as well. I feel like part of my independence and well-being is being restored. 

Perhaps the most important thing I can say about the extra help my LTC insurance is providing, is that it's allowing me to be able to continue participating in many more social activities. Without it, I fear I would become more of a shut-in.  ~ Anne O, Houston, TX, December 2009

We are so grateful Neal bought long-term care insurance [LTCi]. He is now suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). He needs help eating, dressing, bathing, and walking.

The LTC policy you sold him is paying for his caregiver, Martha to help him while I’m at work. We’ve grown to love and trust her. She is the kindest soul. She and Neal “clicked”. She’s calm and efficient.

I teach full-time. Because of Neal’s long-term care insurance, our daughter and I have been able to preserve much more of our everyday routine. We are still at Neal’s side much of the time, but having Martha’s additional help is a huge relief, and gives us a sense of normalcy.

I shudder to imagine how different our lives would be if Neal hadn’t purchased LTC insurance. I have a friend whose husband also has ALS. He needs help 24 hours a day at this point. She has seen the comfortable and enjoyable retirement they’d envisioned vanish, due to the costs of care.

When you explain to me that only a small minority of Americans who are age and income appropriate own long-term care insurance, I am pretty incredulous. If our story could influence just one person to buy LTC, it is worth telling. ~ Susan B, Houston, TX, October 2009

“Receiving the newsletter in the mail this week gave me much comfort knowing that after twelve years of ownership of my Long Term Care Insurance (LTCi) policy you are still the professional and caring person I thought you would be.  Thank you for offering to review a claim in the event I need to file one.  I have been blessed with good health and have never used my policy. It is very reassuring to know that you will be there for me in the event I need your help.  Dedication and service of this caliber is unfortunately uncommon in this day and age.  I also enjoyed your very impressive blog and web site.  Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to hearing from you in the future.”  ~ Barbara Hoyt, Your client since 1997

“I'm so glad that we got the Long-Term Care Insurance when we did.  Alan's doctor felt something at his last visit and he is now being treated for thyroid cancer.”  ~ Elaine, Houston, TX

“Thank you so much for your expert knowledge and service on my Long Term Care Insurance policy.  You have been very thorough in your research as to my needs and the costs involved, but also fun to work with.  The best of both worlds! I will definitely recommend you to all I come across who are interested in a Long Term Care policy.” ~ Deborah B. Yahner, Houston, TX

“We received the check yesterday, so this will make this Thanksgiving special in many ways.  Tim and I talked with mother last night and she would like to express her appreciation and thanks for all the effort you have spent on her claim.  She was quite relieved to say the least.  From the Ries family to the Leveen's we wish you a great Thanksgiving holiday and season.  I will talk with you in the next week or so on our schedule to Houston for December so we may finalize our LTCi policy.” ~ William Ries

“Thanks for sending the newsletter.  We continue to "hang in there."  Two years ago we sold our place in Athens and built behind our daughter's house here in Boerne.  We are very comfortable in our little house and know our kids are right at hand if we have any needs.  We continue to do well health wise.  We built our house with wheel chair wide doors, no bathtubs, no stairs or carpet, so we are pretty well set for those days when there may be special needs.  It was good for our family that we already did a lot of downsizing - not that they won't have a lot of accumulation to take care of some day!!  Thanks for staying abreast of what is going on in long term care.  We appreciate your guidance many years ago when we signed on.”  ~ Meg and Robert Tucker

“I thank you so much for the help you gave me.  I have received the letter from Penn Treaty and I am thrilled with their decision to pay me.” ~ Elaine Kirk, Sugar Land, TX

“I feel so good about my LTCi insurance policy.  Buying LTCi was one of the smartest business decisions I've ever made.  I so appreciate the help you gave me with selecting it.  I'm a walking advertisement for you and for LTCi.  Unfortunately, I've seen firsthand, what can happen if you need care and don't own LTCi.” ~ Lily Clark, Houston, TX

“I travel in my motor home with a large group of single RVers and I am constantly telling them about LTCi insurance and the excellent service you provide.  If we camped closer to Houston, I would try to convince them to have you talk about LTCi at one of the campouts.  However, the camp sites are often hundreds of miles away.  Keep up the good work in your industry.  I am proud to know you and to follow all of your accomplishments.” ~ Janet (Jan) Herbert

“You are the sweetest person!  Thanks for the birthday card.  These birthdays just keep coming, don't they! I hope all is well with you and yours and your wonderful business.  I do tell people about you and expect at some time, one or two will give you a call.”  ~ Dianne White

“Several years ago my husband and I made the good decision (with your help), to purchase Long Term Health Care Insurance. At the time we were both in good health.  Now, unfortunately, my husband is ill.  I have been the caretaker for my husband until recently.  After obtaining good advice from you I now have a part time caretaker from Professional Caretakers and she is a great help.  I now realize I had waited too long to take advantage of the benefits offered by our policy.  The benefits of our policy have given me physical, mental and financial relief.” ~ Helen Triplett

“ I just wanted to thank you for sending Honey to us last evening.   Melanie and I found her to be very knowledgeable and helpful and we really enjoyed the experience.” ~ Lee Finnin Houston, TX January 2007

“I'm very pleased with the LTCi policy you sold me.  I've given it to my financial planner and trusted friend to review and they say it cannot be beat as far as price and value go.  I'm really happy to have my LTCi protection in place.  I thought you were a pleasure to work with and I won't hesitate to refer others to you.”~ Susie Miller, Houston, TX

“Such a pleasure doing business with you . . . I felt so relieved and excited today . . . phew . . . finally did it!” ~ Andrea Gustafson, Katy, TX

“Receiving the newsletter in the mail this week gave me much comfort knowing that after twelve years of ownership of my LTCi policy my agent (Honey Leveen) is the professional and caring person I thought she would be.   Thank you for offering to review a claim in the event I need to file one.   I have been blessed with good health and have never used my policy.  It is very reassuring to know that you will be there for me in the event I need your help.   Dedication and service of this caliber is unfortunately uncommon in this day and age.   I also enjoyed your very impressive blog and web site. Thanks for taking on Opra.  I thank you for the invitation to attend the luncheon at the Forum but will be travelling to the Holy Land for a pilgrimage.   Perhaps I can make the next event.   Keep up the good work and I'll be looking forward to hearing from you in the future.” ~ Barbara Hoyt

“I was delighted to finally meet you and secure the insurance I so desire.  Thank you for the streamlined presentation and your professional expertise.  I do wish for you to forward some information ASAP to my sister.  I hope to distribute your name and contact information often.” ~ Candace Leibe, Houston, TX

“The CareTemps people have been an enormous help to us, allowing Fred to have a break to do errands or some work from home.   It is great to know you are there to help with our questions.  I really appreciate your going beyond the minimum - you have been a guide and friend through all this.” ~ Judy King

“I have been researching Long Term Care Insurance for the last 6 months or so, and today Rhonda and I found the answer to our needs.  I wanted to share my contact and experience in case you may want to pursue Long Term Care insurance.  You know better than me that Mom would collect from this kind of insurance now but her health will not allow it to be purchased.  I guess because I have been in my clients homes and I have seen their different lives, it is worth $2000+ per year to me to know that Rhonda, Tyler and Jess will not have to give me a bath or help me get thru the day. Once I knew I wanted the insurance the next question was WHEN do you buy-how long can you put it off?  Well in my small office, 3 of the women have husbands in their 50's and they have had strokes in the last 12 months. All 3 would qualify to receive LTCi insurance benefits if they had purchased it before their stroke.  Now, they are out of luck.  In my opinion the risk of waiting is not worth saving premium in the short run, but possibly not being able to purchase the insurance because of poor health.  Since I knew I wanted the insurance and I knew I wanted it now, the next decision was who do I purchase the insurance from?  Any insurance agent will sell you a policy but few understand it and will perform true comparison shopping for you.  After going into depth with several other agents, I came across a specialist that sells nothing but LTCi insurance.   Honey Leveen has been selling this stuff for 16 years and is ranked as one of the top 100 agents nationwide in her field. The insurance is complicated with over a dozen add on's and variables.  I think you are best served by allowing a specialist like Honey help you.  This is just my 2 cents worth, but since I am committed to the business of taking care of seniors I wanted to share the info.  If you have any interest check out the data on her web site listed below or give Honey a call.” ~ Dean Hunt, Owner - Astrocare Home Healthcare

“I am so glad I purchased my LTCi policy from you in 1999!  I suffered a serious heart attack and was extremely incapacitated by it.  My convalescence has been lengthy.  I now live in my own very nice apartment in an assisted living community.  The LTCi policy you sold me is paying for nearly all of its cost.  There is no doubt in my mind that without my LTCi policy my life would have turned out quite differently.   I would not have wound up being able to access such a nice living arrangement.  I would have wiped out all of my savings within a short time.  I would have been far more dependent on my brother and sister-in-law.” ~ Al McAllister,The Woodlands, TX

“You are a joy to work with, and especially so as you listen to what your client is saying.  And, your follow-through is detailed and impeccable.  I don't usually make such early comments, but felt it important that you know how we have appreciated your ongoing hard work on our behalf.” ~ Sandra Hamilton, Houston, TX

“I want to thank you for your very helpful advice - because you were the first person to suggest that I may not need comprehensive coverage.  I was struggling to compare benefits, optional benefits, premiums and not finding people who were really knowledgeable.  So I went to the www.LTCi-cLTCi.com/ web site and found your name there. You answered my plea for help quickly.  Eliminating the home care/community care part of the benefits was a major step in moving forward in the process of selecting a company and a policy.  It reduced the premium, and I realized I am not likely to use home care.  You offered to help me even though you could not sell me a policy or profit monetarily.  For that I am very grateful and thank you for being there when I needed LTCi guidance.”~ Sue Horne, Blue Springs, MO

“About 3 months ago I helped move my mother into an assisted living home.  The move was very hard for her.  Not only was she moving from her "home" but she is on a fixed income and assisted living is expensive.  I made a decision then that I would purchase a LTCi insurance policy before my 50th birthday, while the rates were still affordable.  I researched LTCi on the internet and spoke with another agent, but once I met you, my search was over.  You listened to me and showed me several options based on my personal circumstances.  Your approach was straightforward, you explained things to me in an easy to understand manner and you took the time to answer all my questions.   I am very happy and excited with my new LTCi policy.  It gives me "peace of mind" in the years to follow and at a very affordable cost.  I am also certain that if I have any questions or concerns in the future, you will remain accountable and accessible. ” ~ T.L. Montgomery, Richmond, TX

“I forgot to say thanks for lunch. We really enjoyed it and especially your good company.  You are a great professional and very client oriented. You made the whole process seem easy.” ~ Butch, December 9, 2005

“I want to thank you for helping us obtain our LTCi insurance. My wife and I were not a routine case.  Complicated health issues caused us to have to apply to three different companies before both getting accepted.  It took several months to get us placed.   We feel that due to your background and experience, you knew which carriers would give us the best odds of getting accepted and you knew how to design our policies to give us maximum value.  I am a detail-oriented person who enjoys researching things very thoroughly.  I asked you many technical questions which you were able to answer in a straightforward manner, and with insight.” ~ W. Jeffrey Howard

“It's been a pleasure to work with you.  On a personal level, you are kind, thoughtful and positive.  On a business level, you are exceptionally knowledgeable, efficient, and persistent at getting the job done. You went the extra mile for me even though you received no financial benefit for your efforts.  If anyone asks me for a referral for assistance with LTI, I will be referring them to you.  As for as I am concerned, you're the best in the field.” ~ Nancy Limberger, Houston, TX

“Thank you for all the comfort, help, and support that you gave me in finalizing the insurance legalities of my late husband.  Your accountability and close attention to detail helped me deal with the bureaucracy and red tape in a profoundly professional and successful way.  Moreover, you held my hand along the terrifying journey down the long-term care selection path:  a pathway most of us don't want to consider traveling.  Your knowledge and strength guided me through the confusing process and enabled me to make a confident decision that allowed me to move forward and focus on more pressing issues.  I consider you one of Life's Little Blessings:  that makes All The Difference.” ~ Jackie D., Houston, TX

“I cannot imagine anyone being able to take your place as far as customer contact, caring about clients, so knowledgeable in your profession, as well as your determination in getting the message to others.  As I told you on the telephone, during lunch the other day I remarked to a friend of mine that having the Long Term Care Policy took such a "load off my mind being concerned about the future".  To me, that is just one less worry because having this policy means I have done my part in trying to prepare for the future.  This is one investment in which I will be delighted NOT to get a return on.  It even allows me not to feel guilty about spending money on trips that before I had the policy I felt I should keep a "fund" for emergency illness.  I consider the peace of mind well worth the investment.  As an aside, during this same type discussion, a relative stated "well, I hate to invest in something in which I'm not sure I will get a return."  My reply was "well, would that be like when you buy life insurance, are you then disappointed or angry because you can't die so that you can get your return on your investment?!!!!!” ~ Glenda Smith, Sugar Land, TX

“Although I bought my policy from you almost 6 years ago, I have been impressed with your accountability after the sale. You have always returned my calls promptly.  The time you spent with me recently, reviewing how my policy would work should I need it, has been re-assuring to me as I undergo my medical treatments.” ~ Bettie Baty Houston, TX

“We appreciate your help in getting our LTCi set up.  Meeting you at the WBEA convention at Reliant Center was the best thing for us that came out of that expo.” ~ Paulette S. Houston, TX

“We received the first check last week!  They paid retroactively from Aug thru Dec.  Of course we are so happy! Thanks for your help, and for selling us a great policy.” ~ Sylvia

“ Thank you for your kindness and support.  You do business the same way I do and as a result I will of course refer anyone I know to you and tell them what a pleasant experience I had working with you.” ~ Mary Anne

“Thanks for making my year.  I have long term health insurance and I can sleep through the night, knowing that I am in good hands.” ~ K.S., Houston, TX

“Thanks for guiding Joann and I through the process of obtaining LTCi insurance for Joann. Her case was a difficult one because of some issues making it difficult for Joann to qualify for coverage. After about a year's effort and four different applications, you found a carrier that accepted her.” ~ Kenneth N. Porier

“Thanks for your time last night, we appreciate your attention and honest approach. It is certainly something we needed to do and we are very comfortable with the decision we made.” ~ Gary Alden

“How good to finally meet you in person this morning.  I appreciate your time and expertise in finding a reputable company who seemed willing to cover me with long term care insurance.  I have been turned down before because of my particular health problems, and you found a company that will work with me.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me and with that company.  I know that is why they agreed that I, and my husband, also, might be covered for a lower premium than all the others.   Many of our peers are seeking long term care insurance, and if I speak with anyone that is looking, I certainly will recommend you.” ~ Janet Guillot

“ You have been my LTCi Insurance Agent for less than a year, and yet you have continued to look out for my best interest.  Instead of accepting the available LTCi Insurance, you have tenaciously worked towards enhancing my coverage.  Throughout this time you have been amiably responsive about my every concern.  Thank you, and I look forward to working with you in the future.” ~ Portia Poindexter, Sugar Land, TX

“I've been an educator for 38 years and could not find an insurance person to teach us about LTCi in a way that made it easy to understand. Gherlaine and I did prior research on LTCi before we met you because we felt strongly that owning LTCi is the only satisfactory way for most people to prepare for the possibility of needing care.  We were still unable go forward with purchasing it.  The prior advisors we spoke with seemed to make understanding LTCi very complicated.  Also the prices we saw prior to meeting you were all very high.  You were able to give insight and make LTCi coverage relevant for us as you answered all of our questions. You explained things in easy to understand ways. You also understood our needs and concerns and designed a policy that not only will perform well should we need it, but that we can afford.  With your assistance, when we finally did make our applications for LTCi we both felt a strong sense of confidence in what we were doing.  We intend to encourage our friends to call you.” ~ Bob & Gherlaine Hofmann, Carnmine, TX

“Thanks for keeping in touch with me.  You were so much help when I was looking for my Long-Term Care Insurance.”~ Mary J. Miller

“I have slept better every single night since I purchased my policy from you, knowing that I won’t have to call my children if I need care.” ~ Helen B. Lutes

“ It was a big relief to have you in the picture when Mom needed care.   When we called you, you were there for us. You gave us guidance and advice that made the whole process go very smoothly.  The claim was paid promptly, and the policy performed exactly as you stated it would when you sold it to us.” ~ Marilyn Hanovich

“I'm real pleased that it's been so easy to keep in touch with you after you sold me my policy.  When I moved, you gave me your toll-free number.   I've used it a few times to call you just to ask questions about my policy.  You always return my calls promptly.” ~ Nadine Embry, Frisco, TX

“Thank you so much for helping me activate my father's home health care policy with Travelers.  You referred me to excellent care givers and I really appreciate it.  It was such a stressful time and your calm, caring attitude made it much easier to deal with.” ~ Marilyn Domingue