How SWFL seniors can protect retirement savings with smart insurance

Many seniors are digging into retirement funds just to pay their bills.

• SEE ALSO: The retirement crisis nobody warns you about

WINK News has spoken to many seniors about the cost of living getting too expensive. Now may be a good time to review insurance policies to ease financial stress down the road.

Adding a new insurance bill or a higher one can seem counterintuitive. But if it means keeping savings and retirement money intact, now could be the time to re-evaluate.

If the money planned to pay for funeral services or give to loved ones as an inheritance has dwindled, a good life insurance policy can help. Whole life insurance is pricey, but it can serve as a cash reserve and be leveraged while you're alive.

Policy costs can just keep rising. If a policy with good coverage at a reasonable price is found, financial planners suggest securing it if possible.

Planning for long-term care is vital, too. This kind of insurance can pay for an in-home caretaker, which a family may be eligible for, or offset the cost of going to a facility down the road.

It's a monthly bill now, before the help may be needed. But it could save stress in the future.

Medicare supplemental insurance, also known as "Medigap," is a type of insurance that helps pay for co-pays, deductibles, and other expenses that might otherwise require dipping into savings. Every financial decision should be made with careful consideration by a professional.

It's all about evaluating, getting multiple quotes, and choosing what's best.

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