George Albert Mellendorf
Publishes as George A. Mellendorf
In the long-term care insurance industry since 1979 — founder of Central States Insurance Services, Inc. (LTC Solutions), CLTC & LTCP designee, Florida-approved insurance continuing-education instructor, and now also a Southwest Florida real estate professional and the founder of FundingDependency.com.
A career spent watching families find out too late
George Mellendorf has spent more than four decades inside the long-term care insurance industry — underwriting policies, explaining benefits, and sitting across the table from families who were often encountering these questions for the first time, usually at the worst possible moment. He watched the same pattern repeat: families who planned early had options. Families who waited had fewer, and more expensive, ones.
That pattern is the entire reason FundingDependency.com exists. There are ten legitimate ways to fund long-term care in the United States — insurance-based, government-based, and self-funded — and most families only ever hear about one or two of them, usually from whoever happens to be selling something at the time. George built the ten-pillar framework on this site to give families the whole map first, before any sales conversation happens.
Today, alongside his continued work advising clients on long-term care insurance, George also works in real estate — helping people relocate to and settle in Gulf Harbour and the broader Southwest Florida region — and builds this educational project. He is not a licensed elder-law attorney, and this site is not legal or financial advice. It's the plain-language starting point he wishes more families had access to decades ago.
Four-plus decades in long-term care insurance
-
1979
Founded Central States Insurance Services, Inc. (LTC Solutions)
George started what became a national long-term care insurance brokerage (BGA/MGA) headquartered in Cape Coral, Florida — marketing traditional and asset-based long-term care insurance to independent agents and advisors across the country.
Source: LinkedIn — George Mellendorf
-
2000–2016
Brokerage General Agent (BGA) partner for Genworth
For 16 years, George's agency served as a BGA for Genworth, at the time one of the largest carriers underwriting long-term care insurance in the United States.
Source: LinkedIn — George Mellendorf
-
2018–2021
Recognized industry voice on long-term care insurance
Quoted repeatedly by trade publications and consumer-education outlets as a long-term care insurance expert, discussing buyer demographics, high-net-worth planning, hybrid policy design, and shared-care provisions for couples.
Source: LTC News & American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance
-
2023
LTC Solutions acquired by Krause Brokerage Services
Krause Brokerage Services (Krause Group) acquired LTC Solutions, folding George's four-decades-plus of long-term care insurance experience into Krause's national brokerage network. George has continued as an active advisor on long-term care insurance within that network.
Source: Krause Group — press release
-
Ongoing
Founder & author, FundingDependency.com
Alongside his continued long-term care insurance advisory work, George built FundingDependency.com and its companion project, The Dependency Series, to give families a plain-language map of every legitimate way to fund long-term care — before a crisis forces the decision.
Source: FundingDependency.com
What 47+ years in the industry actually taught him
- 01Long-term care insurance underwriting & brokerage — four-plus decades running a national BGA/MGA distributing traditional and hybrid LTC insurance.
- 02Hybrid & asset-based long-term care insurance — cash-benefit, lump-sum, and inflation-growth policy design.
- 03Multi-life & small-business group LTC insurance — workplace-sponsored coverage, including options for small groups and women executives.
- 04Medicare, Medicaid & VA funding fundamentals — how the government-based pillars interact with private insurance and personal assets.
- 05Consumer education & continuing education instruction — translating carrier and regulatory complexity into plain language for both consumers and licensed agents.
- 06Southwest Florida real estate & relocation — helping families make a major life transition with clear eyes and good information.
Designations, licensing & teaching
George holds the CLTC (Certified in Long-Term Care) and LTCP (Long-Term Care Professional) designations (LTC News). He is also listed as an approved insurance continuing-education instructor (Instructor ID #737925) on the Florida Department of Financial Services’ official instructor registry — meaning he is authorized to teach state-mandated continuing education to other licensed Florida insurance agents (Florida DFS Approved Instructor List; license status can be independently verified at LicenseeSearch.FLDFS.com).
That same teaching instinct carries over into his published work: George is the founder, author, and reviewer behind FundingDependency.com’s ten-pillar funding framework, its FAQ and Resources & Evidence Hub, and the monthly long-form articles published as The Dependency Series — a sister project covering the medical conditions that most often trigger a need for long-term care.
Quoted as an industry source
Over the years, George has been sought out by long-term care insurance trade press and consumer-education outlets as a subject-matter source. A sample of on-record quotes, each linked back to the original publication:
“When I first started in the ‘nursing home insurance’ business in 1979, the average age was 74. Today we are down to the mid-50s and early 60s. Protecting assets and planning are the two motivators for the purchase of Long-Term Care Insurance.”
“Majority of LTC Insurance Buyers are in Their 50s”
“Cash payments provide the greatest flexibility and possibilities when care is needed. One of the innovative plans today even provides a retroactive lump-sum cash payment for home care back to day-one after the 90-day elimination or deductible period is met.”
“Comparing Hybrid Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Benefits”
“Shared care provisions can vary by insurance company and state regulations… all of these small but important contractual provisions can be exceedingly meaningful. They are ways to benefit and also save.”
“Couples Overlook This Long-Term Care Insurance Planning Option”
“Cash benefits that can pay for non-certified caregivers, including a family member, are one of the options currently offered. Policies that can pay immediate benefits for home care without having to meet the standard 90-day elimination or deductible period are increasingly popular.”
“Home Care Dominates The Majority Of Long-Term Care Insurance Claims”
“It has been my experience that nearly 75% of the individuals that purchase Long-Term Care Insurance are pre-disposed to long-term care due to family history.”
“High-Net-Worth Individuals Find Value in Long-Term Care Insurance”
“More than ever, small and mid-sized businesses with female owners and key executives have a significant reason to consider offering long-term care insurance. Of course, long-term care planning is essential for both men and women.”
“Long-Term Care Insurance Savings For Women Executives”
“I couldn’t be happier with the acquisition and the opportunity to work with the staff at Krause Brokerage Services. Krause has joined forces with a well-established, profitable company while planning to maintain its current management, staff and leadership.”
“Krause Brokerage Services Acquires LTC Solutions”
Real estate & relocation in Gulf Harbour
Many families exploring long-term care funding are also weighing a move — closer to family, into a more manageable home, or into the Southwest Florida area entirely. George's real estate work in Gulf Harbour and the surrounding communities is a natural extension of the same mission: helping people make a major life transition with clear eyes and good information.
Ask about relocation or real estate → See the Florida funding guide →Start with the assessment, not a sales call.
Twelve questions. About four minutes. No obligation, no fee, no pitch.