Optimax Enterprise Inc.

test download

若孩子的教育金， 房贷，家人的生计会因你的意外死亡而遭遇重大困难，则买寿险就是必要的。

定期寿险

定期寿险，是指在保险合同约定的期间内，如果被保险人死亡或全残，则保险公司按照约定的保险金额给付保险金，若保险期限届满被保险人健在，则保险合同自然终止，保险公司不再承担保险责任，并且不退回保险费。

定期寿险只有保险功能，没有储蓄功能，其保费是人寿保险中最便宜的。

 适用对象

终身寿险

 终身寿险意味着“可以保一辈子”，这也是与定期寿险的最大区别。终身寿险只要维持合同有效，保险金最终必将给付（因为人总有一死）。不会如定期保险，在保险期过后被保人无法从保险公司领到任何回报，有亏本的感觉。

传统终身保险(Whole Life )其特点是终身保障，保费是固定不变的。终身人寿保险的保单通常集合保险和储蓄投资于一身。保单中另含有现金价值(cash value)，由保险公司每年派发的红利累积而成.  这种储蓄型保险的保险费相对较高，因为除基本的保险成本外还收取部份用于现金价值账户。

这种保险适合于收入比较稳定，较高资产，希望有稳定的回报又不想自己参与投资的人士。也是投资者借此保险赚取避税收入和计划以保险金遗留给家人或其他人的被保险人（配偶）；又可免缴纳许多遗产税。

万能寿险

万能寿险是一种储蓄型的寿险。每次缴交的保费（premium）中有一部分用来买寿险，一部分用来投资。

万能寿险除了同传统寿险一样给予保护生命保障外，还可以让客户直接参与由保险公司为投保人建立的投资帐户内资金的投资活动，将保单的价值与投资帐户资金的业绩联系起来。

万能寿险组成结构：分为两部分

一份可续保的定期寿险加一个独立的个人投资账户

1. “可续保的定期寿险”表明，万能寿险是一种定期寿险，终生有效，其保费跟着年龄而逐年上涨。2.“独立的个人投资账户”，投资账户的赚或赔与保险公司无关。投保人直接将户头里的钱投入股市，因此盈亏自负。

保费的缴交可以有弹性

1. 保单所有人能暂时少缴， 多交保费金额，甚至暂时停止缴；只要先前在投资户头里的钱达到一定的额度。

2. 保险金额可以改变 -逐年增加·或减少。20至40岁的青年人处于事业的起步或发展阶段，刚刚组建家庭，房贷和车贷不可突然因被保人的意外而中断，此阶段则应提高保险的比重。等到了50岁后子女已成年，可能需要多一部分现金来补充养老，这时可以降低保险比例，而升高投资的比重。

所有投资账户里的成长所得是不用交税的。受益人在保人死亡时可领取此投资账户里的钱和保险金，也不用交税。

原文 Understanding Medicaid for Dementia

Medicaid is a vital program that provides needed medical services, including adult day care, in-home care and even nursing home care services for seniors who cannot afford to pay for their own care. Understanding Medicaid, however, can feel like a puzzle. What services are covered? Who is eligible for services?

Knowing what benefits are available can help many seniors plan for their care during the twilight years of their lives — and even more importantly, it can help the adult children responsible for parents with dementia understand what options are available when it comes time to provide care for their loved ones. Here are some pointers shared by Senior Planning Services, a Medicaid planning and consulting company that assists seniors with their Medicaid eligibility.

Determining Eligibility for Medicaid for Dementia

In order to receive Medicaid assistance for long-term care or home and community care, an individual must have a clear need for assistance with the activities of daily living.

Most states insist that an individual need those services in order to keep them from needing to enter a nursing home before they become eligible.

Though most Medicaid beneficiaries are also eligible for Medicare, Medicare typically doesn’t cover all the services that are necessary in order for the individual to live a quality life.

Financial Eligibility for Medicaid

To be financially eligible for Medicaid, applicants must meet strict income and asset guidelines.

In general, annual income must be less than or equal to the federal poverty level —  monthly income for an individual in 2015 is $825 and for a couple $1,209. Individuals must also possess limited assets. Several assets don’t count. An individual may continue to own their own home as long as a spouse or minor child continues to reside there or they have plans to return to their home following a period in an assisted living facility. A single vehicle, burial plans up to a limit determined by the state, and several other assets do not count against the individual who is hoping to qualify for Medicaid. There is also spousal impoverishment protection that prevents a spouse who will not be receiving Medicaid benefits or living in an assisted living facility from having to spend down all of their resources in order for the other spouse to qualify.

Individuals who are hoping to qualify for Medicaid need to be careful how they “spend down” or otherwise redistribute their resources. While repairs to a home, personal clothing, and health expenses are all valid uses of that money, large gifts given to children or other family members within five years of Medicaid application can cause a senior to be ineligible for Medicaid for a period of time. In the case of excess income that might otherwise disqualify an individual from Medicaid, it is also possible to set up a trust fund that is designated specifically for medical and some other expenses in order to make Medicaid qualification possible.

Applying for Medicaid for Dementia

The first step in determining Medicaid eligibility is filling out a Medicaid application, which can be found online: https://www.medicaid.gov/.

Before beginning, it’s necessary to put together a folder of documents that include proof of residence, proof of assets and other resources including bank statements, proof of age and citizenship, and proof of income. The application should be selected according to the individual’s state of residence. Once the application is completed, it should be checked for accuracy and then sent in as soon as possible.

Individuals who believe that they may qualify for Medicaid, even if they aren’t sure, are encouraged to go ahead and fill out the application — they may be surprised by the services that they’re able to receive.  It’s important that each part of the form be filled out in full before it’s sent in; many applications are rejected as a result of incomplete or inaccurate information.

Medicaid can significantly lessen the burden of end-of-life care for individuals with dementia. With proper planning and armed with the necessary information, family caregivers can make it easier for their loved ones to live out their lives in peace.

Do you use medicaid for dementia? What has your experience been like? Share your stories with us in the comments below.

About the Author

Benny Lamm is a communication specialist and blogger at Senior Planning Services, an industry leader in helping seniors and their families achieve Medicaid-sponsored long-term care. He enjoys playing the guitar, spending time with family and social networking.

2010年，來自國際失智症協會的《全球失智症報告》，驚動WHO（世界衛生組織）與OECD（經濟合作暨發展組織），報告中指出，隨全球人口快速老化，失智症患者正以驚人速度增長，對人類影響更甚於瘧疾與戰爭。

而台灣超過80歲以上的失智症盛行率，推估介於13％至37％，意即，每4位長者就有1人可能罹患失智症。與其他疾病不同的是，失智症的照護難度高，病程長達8至10年，也墊高照護成本。早期介入與控制，可延緩老化。

Nationwide LTC

万一你未来需要别人长期来照料你的生活起居。 你打算怎样付这笔钱？怎样才能不成为子女的负担？

 为何要买长照保险  

根据美国卫生署统计， 以现年65岁的人来讲，其中70%的人未来将需要长期看护的服务。长期照护保险帮你应付: 慢性病，失去生活自理的能力，失智症等情况。 

买长期照护保险可以帮你应付这种需要。 长期照护保险要保的是一般健康保险不给付的服务，如照料日常生活的活动：沐浴，穿衣，上下床，如厕，行走，进食。

普通健保不付长期看护的费用。 联邦医疗保险只付短期的疗养院居住，及到你家里看病的护理及复健医疗的费用。

如果你没有长期看护险，那将来你只能要求子女掏钱或由他们劳力来解决来解决你生活的不便。你可以申请政府的醫療援助計劃 Medicaid来支付， 但你必须先把毕生赚来的的财产花光，使自己变为贫户。因为醫療援助計劃 Medicaid是专门给低收入户用的。

买长照保险的二个理由

1. 保护你的老本。 长期照护的费用十分昂贵。养老院，日照中心， 家庭看护，等等的费用日益高涨。以2016年来讲， 半公办的养老院的收费是$80,000一年.

2. 提供你更多的选择。 你可用钱买到更好品质的服务和环境，同时有更多的选择。。单靠医疗援助计划（Medicaid）的钱，就只能在使用政府允许的项目上。 

长期看护保险适合给高收入及高资产的人。 专家建议不要用超过5%的收入来买这一种服务。

相关阅读老人失智的预防

美国对慢性病的医疗照顾，可读 白卡（Medicaid）与 失忆症长期照护

What is annuity? – Annuity guarantees an insured life-long stream of incomes that he cannot outlive.  

If you save money in annuity account and defer receiving incomes for a period of time, the insurance company will pay interest to you.  You may choose interest payment from options of fixed rates or variable rates. Index Annuity is an annuity paying interest in variable rates in accumulation period (before any income payout starts), and uses market performance index, such as S&P 500 as a reference to calculate interest rates.  

The distribution phase of Index Annuity has the same payout options as immediate annuity, such as: life, joint-life, fixed periods, etc.  

Benefit of Index Annuity: good for people who are not satisfied with fixed interest rates and not willing to risk investment loss. 

There are 3 major types of plans. I am going to use the historical returns of S&P 500 2001-2005 to illustrate how they work.

1.      Participation rate, floor, spread

Nationwide offers: as of Feb 2019, Participation rate: 50% of S&P 500 index, Floor protection = 0% loss, Spread = 1.95%  as fees

In plain English:

1. When the S&P 500 return is negative, floor protection applied. The actual interest rate will be 0.
2. When the S&P 500 return is positive, participation rate and spread rate applied. The actual interest rate will be: S&P 500 return rate multiply 50% ,then deduct 1.95% . Assume the S&P500 return is 10% on year 2000, the interest rate provided in this plan will be 10%*50%=5%, then (5%-1.95%)= 3.05%.

In year 2001, S&P 500 annual return is -11.89%, that year we don’t have growth or loss, as the floor protection applied.

In year 2002, S&P 500 annual return is -22.10%, that year we don’t have growth or loss, as the floor protection applied.

In year 2003, S&P 500 annual return is 28.68%, for calculating rate of return, we need to multiply 28.68% ith participation rate 50%, the result  is 14.34%.  Then we need also need to deduce spread fees 1.95%, the result 14.34%-1.95% = 12.39%. In 2003, investor’s principal would grow from $100,000 to $112,390.

In year 2004, S&P 500 annual return is 10.88%, for calculating rate of return, we need to multiply 10.88% ith participation rate 50%, the result  is 5.44%.  Then we need also need to deduce spread fees 1.95%, the result 5.44%-1.95% = 3.49%. In 2004, investor’s principal would grow from $112,390 to $116,312.

Using the same mechanics, in the 2005 the principal will grow to $116,900. Namely, when we put $100,000 into this annuity at the beginning of 2001, at the end of 2005 it will become $116,900.

2.      Cap, Floor

Example 1: Pacific Life Index foundation offers :  as of 2019 Jan.,  Floor = 0% loss, Cap=5.3%

In plain English:

1. When the S&P 500 return is negative, floor protection applied. The actual interest rate will be 0.
2. When the S&P 500 return is positive, when the return rate is higher than Cap rate, Cap rule applied. If the return rate is lower than Cap rate, then interest rate will be the same as the return rate. If the return rate is higher than Cap rate, then Cap rate will be the interest rate of that year. For instance, if the S&P500 return is 10% on year 2000, the interest rate provided in this plan will be 5.3%. (Return rate 10% is higher than Cap rate 5.3%)
3. when the S&P 500 return rate is between floor and Cap, the return rate will be used as the interest rate of that year.

In year 2001, S&P 500 annual return is -11.89%, that year we don’t have growth or loss, as the floor protection applied.

In year 2002, S&P 500 annual return is -22.10%, that year we don’t have growth or loss, as the floor protection applied.

In year 2003, S&P 500 annual return is 28.68%, for calculating rate of return, the maximum we can get is 5.3%. $100,000 x 5.3%=5300. In 2003, investor’s principal would grow from $100,000 to $105,300.

In year 2004, S&P 500 annual return is 10.88%, for calculating rate of return the maximum we can get is 5.3%. $105,300 x 5.3%=5581. In 2004, investor’s principal would grow from $105,300 to $110,881.

In the 2005, S&P 500 annual return is 4.91%, which is lower than the Cap.  The rate of return of that year is 4.91%.  $110,881 x 4.91% =$5,444. The principal will grow to $116,325.

All in all, when we put $100,000 into this annuity at the beginning of 2001, at the end of 2005 it will become $116,325.

Example 2: Transamerica offers: as of Dec of 2018,  Floor =2% minimum growth, Cap=5.5%.

In plain English:

1. When the S&P 500 return is less than 2%, floor protection applied. The actual interest rate will be 2%.
2. When the S&P 500 return is positive, when the return rate is higher than Cap rate, Cap rule applied, then Cap rate will be the interest rate of that year. For instance, assume the S&P500 return is 10% on year 2000, the interest rate provided in this plan will be 5.5%.
3. When the S&P 500 return rate is between floor and Cap, the return rate will be used as the interest rate of that year.

In year 2001, S&P 500 annual return is -11.89%,  as the floor protection applied, investor has 2% growth, $100,000 x2% =2000, the year end result is %102,200

In year 2002, S&P 500 annual return is -22.10%, as the floor protection applied, investor has 2% growth, $102,000 x2% =2040, the year end result is %104,040

In year 2003, S&P 500 annual return is 28.68%, for calculating rate of return, the maximum we can get is 5.5%. $104,040 x 5.3%=$5722.2. In 2003, investor’s principal would grow from $104,040 to $109,762.

…

In 2005, S&P 500 annual return is 4.91%, which is lower than the Cap.  The rate of return of that year is 4.91%.  $115,799 x 4.91% =$5,686.  The principal will grow to $121,485. Namely, when we put $100,000 into this annuity at the beginning of 2001, at the end of 2005 it will become $121,485.

3.      Performance Triggered Rate

                Pacific Life Index foundation offers: as of 2019 January,  Floor = 0% loss, Performance triggered rate = 4.9%, when index performance >0.

In plain English:

1. When the S&P 500 return is negative, floor protection applied. The actual interest rate will be 0%.
2. When the S&P 500 return is positive, the pre-set interest rate applied. No matter the return is higher or lower than the pre-set rate; 4.9% in this case.

2001, and 2002, S&P 500 returns are negative, so the growth rate is 0 at those years.

When market returns are positive, like 2003-2005, then the interest rate for growth are 4.9% fixed, no matter the actual rates are higher or lower than this 4.9%.

The potential issue of FIA

The declared rates may change in different year, with very few exceptions. Such as in Example 2, when we saw that insurance company TA offers higher rates than Paclife does. TA has higher CAP and higher minimum floor rate, which would produce better result.  But TA indicates that its rates are subject to change year after year and PacLife declares it won’t change its rate once the contract takes effect.   This variable is what we need to take into consideration when choosing annuities.

Other factors:

Also like CD saving in banks, the large amount you save, or the longer the time you want to save, the higher interest rate you may get. When you compare the interest rates of different annuities, you need to take these into considerations.

年金的要素及趨勢簡介

何謂“年金”？

“年金“是一種“保險合同“：保險公司保證你終身有固定收入到死為止。讓保險人免於因活太久而用盡儲蓄的恐懼； 適用於喜歡穩定收入的人。是 55-65歲接近退休的人士 做退休規劃時必須考慮的選項。

舉例： 假如你估計65 歲以後每月需要$4000來支撐生活固定開銷，而你夫妻屆時每月加起來可領$3500的社會福利金。 則你每月需要$500的額外收入來支付這個缺口。 這筆錢您可從銀行存款或退休賬戶（401k ；IRA）中領取。 但如果你害怕因為活太久而用光儲蓄，或你的投資的可能虧損會導致未來生活不夠錢開銷 。你覺得每月必須有鐵定$500的收入，你睡覺才能安穩。那你就應購買可以每月讓你領取$500到死為止的年金。保險公司只要取得你的現有年齡，計劃何時開始領取年金，打算每年領多少，就可以算出你應花多少錢買這終身年金。 （但每家保險公司的價錢不同）（參見視訊）

年金裡可以改變的選項

你若不是一買了年金合約後就立即要終身領取年金，保險公司提供不同的方法讓你可用這筆錢去再賺錢。保險公司除了提供終身領取制，另外也提供較短時間的定期領取制 。       

Accumulation Phase (資本增長階段) –投保人存放本錢後不立即使用，他的本金就會既可以被拿來滋生利息或投資得利

                保金成長的方法

1. 利息賺取型（fixed-income type，fixed annuity）為了鼓勵人們早早將錢放在保險公司，希望投資人將錢多存放幾年。保險公司就付利息給保險人。 保險人賺得的利息就被用來給該保單的增值。利息計演算法可選擇固定的，也可選浮動的(猶如銀行貸款)。 利率可能為保險公司的宣告的固定利率，或可用按照其它指標(indexes)為參考值用特定公式計算出來會浮動的利率。投保人的錢有如放在銀行裡的定期存款般。
2. 投資變動型（variable annuity）保險公司讓投保人將錢投資於某些特定的共同基金(mutual funds), 讓這投資的結果成為未來年金攤分時的基礎。投保人可借共同基金的高成長潛力，而使得本金的成長可大大高於只能賺取利息的年金計劃（fixed annuity）。反之，投資共同基金也會有投資失利的情形，如此將致使將來可領取的金額變少。投資結果好壞與保險公司無關，投保人自負風險。這種型別的年金合同的特點是：不適合即將退休的人購買，因為如果投資不利會造成投保的本金的虧損無法於短期內賺回本，如此一來就喪失買年金求“保障收入”的本意。

Distribution Phase（資本結餘攤分階段）-年金的不同領取方式

1. Life- 終身制。讓受保人領到死。如採用此計劃，一旦開始領取年金就永遠不得改變計劃。死得早而收不回本金投入的總額的話算你虧本，但如你壽命很長而使領到的錢遠大於投入的資本的話算你賺。假設：你投入$100,000買的年金，可以從65歲起每月領$500。 但你於70歲就過世，你只領了3萬，剩餘沒用到的錢（7萬）你也不能過繼給孩子。但你如活到82歲以上，即使你領的錢總額遠超過投入的錢，你仍能繼續領取到到過世為止。

               Joint-Life 保險公司也提供讓未亡人領取終身的年金；也就是把受保人夫妻視為為一體，兩人中較晚死亡者仍可領年金到身故。

2. Fixed-Periods – 定期制。 假如你採用終身領取的方式，你可能會因太早過世致使覺得不划算（如上例）。 於是乎保險公司也提供定期領取的方式，約定好時間的內將錢加息後返還給你- 如20 年期的計劃；保險公司把錢分20 年給你，如你還沒領到20 年的份就死去， 保險公司會把餘款給你的指定繼承人。如20年後你還活著，你也不能再領了。 假設你家族成員的壽命一般沒超過85歲，你可以考慮於65歲時用這種定期攤分法。

最新流行的 年金產品- 希望年金能有高成長又無風險的成長

1. 指數型年金equity indexed annuity-參考股市指數來計算利息-。近年來投資人常無法滿足於保險公司為年金提供的固定利率。保險公司於是提出與股市指數index相關的利息計算方法；如：某年金可以跟S&P500 標普500指數的 成長率為利率, 但又以5.5% 為上限； 但當標普500指數的 成長率為負數時，該本金維持原來的數目，被保障沒有損失。

                假設某年S&P500 上漲10%，則該投資人可賺5.5%的利息。 次年S&P500 下跌8%20%，則該投資人的本金維持前一年的數字，沒有虧損。第三年S&P500上漲3%，該年以3%計息加入年金的本金中。

2. 最低 收入保障合同(income rider )—讓年金投保人可投錢於共同基金賺取高報酬但又不必怕虧本的額外保險-。這類產品可有許多不同的花樣可以選擇，但基本精神如下：

於資本增長階段，此時你變動型年金裡的共同基金投資組合隨市場變化而有盈虧；此時保險公司提供另一保障最低金額的保險。如果於攤分提領年金時：你的實際投資結果大於這保證金額，那就用實際的投資結餘作為攤分年金的基數；如果你的實際投資是低於這保證金額，就依據這保證的金額作為攤分年金的基數（通通依照合同裡的講好的提取比率拿錢）。

例如： 某年金的“收入保障合同“保障：年金基數在10年內以7.2%年利率成長，並讓你可於65歲開始到身亡止每年可提取5%的 投資結果（實際投資結果或保數額，兩者中較大者）

於是：你於55歲時用$100,000買變動型年金而投資於某共同基金，並加買了該“最低收入保障合同”。 於是65 歲時你的“保證年金基數”累積成為$200,000（7.2% 年複利計算）。如果當時你年金裡的實際投資結果只有$180,000, 則保險公司用$200,000 為基數，而你終身每年可以領$10,000 ($200,000 x5%)。 如果當時你的實際共同基金投資結果是$240,000, 則保險公司用$240,000 為發錢的基數，每月领$12,000（$240,000 x5%)。有的保险公司让你用傳統的年金終身制或定期制領取实际的投资结果。

保障愈多的合同其費用也必然更高, 加起来每年要支付投资额的4%上下，你要注意你的基金是否能賺足夠的利潤來支付這些額外的保險。

年金可以滿足退休人士求安定無憂生活的需要。但要注意應用上述基本原理來挑選適合你的年金。因為年金一般要求你長期不得毀約拿回本金，除非繳納罰款，因此 購買時須要詳細瞭解每一細節條文，避免買到不適合的年金會而長時間後悔。

年金是一種由保險公司發行的投資工具； 它要求投資人做長期投資，用政府稅負上的優惠（延稅）來成長。保險公司保障投資人在退休後可以終生領取一固定收入（guaranteed income)。 投資人也可選擇短期的年金領取方式。

因為年金成長與提領時有不同的模式，可產生不同的產品組合。投資人應跟理財專家一起討論年金的各選項，組合起一個與你的退休規劃目標一致的產品，如此才能讓你滿意。對一人適合的年金產品，對他人不見得也是好的。

年金可提供：

• 保证固定的收入
• 用來節稅
• 轉為遺產
• 優於銀行定存的利率

年金运作的形式

年金是保险公司与你之间的一张合约。你先交给保险公司一笔或多笔的钱，保险公司将这些钱拿去投资成长，于双方同意的未来连本带利还钱给你。届时你提领的方式可以是一次性或多次性的。

年金是保險公司與你之間的一張合約。你先交給保險公司一筆錢，保險公司將這些錢拿去投資使其成長，在未來一特定時間連本帶利還錢給你。不同於銀行定存的是， 屆時你可於一次性提領或以終生分期方式提領。 你可使年金成為你退休收入的一組成部分。

 依資本成長模式來分，年金有下列三類

變額型 -買共同基金型

保險公司讓你將錢放在特定的共同基金的賬戶裡，這些賬戶由專業經理人買賣股票或債券。由於這類投資賬戶會受市場起伏的影響，變額型年金有賠錢的風險， 但其價值上漲的速度也會較快。末了，年金方可提領的款額是依照你此賬戶裡錢的投資結果而計算出來的。多賺就多拿，少賺就只能少拿。

 固定利率型 - 有如銀行定存

保險公司向你借錢的契約。他們每年付固定的利息，讓你的本金在可以遞延交資本利得稅的情形下成長。它保障在你退休時可以有固定金額的收入。 它的風險性低，很適合保守的退休人士。

指數型 -固定利率+浮動利率

指數型年金是固定利率年金的一種，保險公司以（最低保障利率+浮動利率）來計算該給你的利息。浮動利率是參考股市指數而來的。你的錢並沒有拿去股市投資。你的本金在可以遞延交資本利得稅的情形下成長。它保障在你退休時可以有固定金額的收入。

該注意的是保險公司的能否支付其保證的福利，是根據該公司屆時的財務能力而定的。

年金范例

Nationwide Annuity H8

Nationwide Hightpoint 8 Annuity