LTC Hotline simplifies the process of long term care insurance (News-Medical-Net)

LTC Hotline — a one-stop shopping center — promises to simplify the process of finding the right long term care policy from the right carrier at the right price.

Long Term Care Community Gathers In Wichita (WIBW Topeka)

Kansas Long Term Care Community Gather to Advance Quality Improvements, Call Attention to Proposed Funding Cuts to Senior Care; Caution Additional Medicare Cuts to Skilled Nursing Care Will Harm Seniors’ Care, Place Kansas Nursing Staff Jobs in Jeopardy

Pennsylvania Insurance Department Petitions to Place Penn Treaty Into Liquidation

October 2, 2009.

Home Automation for Wellness Monitoring

Caregiver Systems was founded to provide a system that allows seniors to “age in place” while providing peace of mind for their families. Caregiver Systems by Home Controls, Inc. combines knowledge and expertise in home automation solutions with an affordable, fully installed, interactive and easy-to-use system that provides 24/7 wellness reporting, activities of daily living and communications. It combines aspects of home automation, online communications, wellness reporting, activities of daily living alerts and cognitive tools into one easy-to-use, affordable package that pays for itself in the first 30 to 90 days of use. Caregiver Systems’ partners provide installation services and a thorough, personalized orientation on how to use the simple touch screen system. Caregiver Systems does not require separate systems for seniors and caregivers. The system consists of one touch screen monitor and wireless “wellness sensors” placed throughout the senior’s home. The wellness sensors monitor and collect data on important health indicators, including blood pressure, glucose levels, weight, activity and motion, sending wellness reports directly to a secure Web page accessed by the caregiver or family member. Caregiver Systems is also a complete communication system. Relatives, friends and caregivers simply go online to send messages, reminders and pictures right to the touch screen. The senior needs no computer experience to receive full benefit from Caregiver Systems. The beauty of Caregiver Systems is its simplicity. It provides all of the features you’d expect for a top of the line aging in place solution, yet it’s affordable, paying for itself in about three months. The price is competitive in order to reach millions of seniors and disabled individuals who want to stay independent in their own homes, and to also help millions of caregivers who are making the ultimate sacrifice for their loved ones. Caregiver Systems is available for immediate installation anywhere in the U.S. For more information on the affordable aging in place alternative from Caregiver Systems, please call 1-858-693-5545 or go to: www.caregiversystems.com.

Parenting Your Parents

With the first baby boomer turning 65 last year, it’s clear the senior population is going to explode over the next 20 years. ParentYourParents.com is an online resource helping caregivers, seniors and adult children of aging parents plan for and transition into the future. ParentYourParents.com helps people navigate through the later stages of life with dignity and purpose by providing information: a provider’s directory of senior related businesses and services, planning tools, articles, a senior calendar of events, links to assistance programs, helpful state and government links, caregiver resources and much more. Karen Frye, CFO and founding partner, says, “It is amazing how much the site has grown and evolved over the past year! We are very excited about the changes we have recently implemented.” Frye continues, “If visitors have not been to ParentYourParents.com in the last month or so, they will be pleasantly surprised with the upgrades we have added.” Prior to this upgrade visitors may not have realized the website has information and providers in all 50 states. Another new feature is their Blog. Visitors are encouraged to post entries on the blog and share their experiences or offer suggestions to other caregivers who may be seeking help. When visitors log onto ParentYourParents.com they have the ability to research caregiver resources and elder care information across the country. Families don’t necessarily live in the same city or state. ParentYourParents.com gives visitors the ability to search anywhere in the country for aging parent resources, caregiver support information and a local provider’s directory, regardless of where they reside. The most unique new feature is the electronic “Contact Me” form. This allows visitors to request specific information directly from any of the providers on the website. About ParentYourParents.com – Adult children of aging parents have a new role and responsibility, one that our parent’s didn’t have. People are living longer and are not necessarily planning for it; they need advice, guidance and support from their adult children and trusted family members. ParentYourParents.com is designed to be a resource for caregivers seeking information to help their aging parents and loved ones plan for and secure their future.

Americans Fail Long Term Care Insurance Planning Quiz

When it comes to knowledge about long-term care insurance planning, Americans once again received a failing grade.

Long Term Care Insurance News You Never Hear

Increasingly, we get calls from reporters who are doing more in-depth stories about long term care planning and the role of long-term care insurance. First, it is a great feeling to help them get the portray a correct story since their words, whether written or oral can influence so many prospects and potential buyers. Friday, a national editor who I have worked with before called the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance’s offices. At this point, I won’t reveal the story being working on but in the ensuing research I did – two pieces of information emerged. They are examples of when long-term care insurers go beyond what is required. You may not be familiar with them. The first involves Genworth’s new policy being offered to AARP members. The policy offers a 60-day return policy. In simple terms, the consumer can return the policy within 60 days for a refund of monies paid. As most insurance agents know, the standard “free look” required by law is 30 days. Now, it bears stating that the State of Washington just passed a law mandating the 60-day provision. Who knows whether other states will follow. And, in speaking with a long-time Genworth producer, it was noted that in an effort to provide outstanding customer service the company has not held rigid to the 30-day cut off. But clearly there was someone who thought this was a customer-friendly provision … and agreed to make it available. The second story involves John Hancock. In recognition of the weak economy, the company allows (or allowed, I am not sure if the practice continues) policyholders who lose their jobs and fail to pay premiums for a certain period of time, to reinstate their policies without the typically-required health underwriting. What a recognition of going the extra mile to help the people who showed the good faith and sense to buy your product. Having worked with the media for most of my life, every reporter will tell you it is not their job to “shill” for a company. So don’t ever expect to read about these items in the news. But, in the current environment we are in — and with the news media focusing so much attention on negatives surrounding the insurance industry, it’s good to know there are insurers doing well because they do good. That’s a message the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is proud to help convey. If readers have others to share, feel free to send them to me. I’ll gladly pass them along. Mail to: jslome @ aaltci.org

Nursing Home Studies Reveal Benefit of Long Term Care Insurance

While less than a third of benefits from U.S. long-term care insurance companies pays for nursing home care, most Americans still associate policies with a costly nursing home stay according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance . Two studies now look at the benefits of this increasingly popular protection. A report published in the organization’s annual Sourcebook revealed that nine percent of nursing home residents would have delayed going to a nursing home for necessary care in the absence of a nursing home policy. Some 13 percent reported they would have used a less costly provider in the absence of having long-term care insurance. A new report issued this week has found that non-profit nursing homes provide better care than for-profit facilities. According to Canadian researchers, a review of 82 studies conducted starting in 1965 reported that 40 studies found that non-profit nursing homes provided significantly better quality care, while three studies concluded that for-profit homes delivered better care. The remaining studies had mixed results. Most of the studies were conducted in Canada and the United States. Non-profit homes did better in four important quality measures: more or higher quality staffing; lower rates of pressure ulcers; less use of physical restraints; and fewer deficiencies cited by regulatory agencies. Based on their findings, the researchers calculated that if all nursing homes were non-profit, nursing home residents in the United States would receive 500,000 more hours of nursing care per day, while those in Canada would receive 42,000 more hours of nursing care per day. The findings of the second study which were published online in the British Medical Journal suggest a trend toward higher quality care in non-profit nursing homes than in for-profit homes, said the researchers. Last year American long-term care insurance companies paid some $8.5 billion in benefits to some 180,000 individuals. Some of the largest claims, typically for care in skilled nursing home facilities, exceed $1 million according to the industry organization. Long-term care insurance provides individuals with the ability to choose where care is provided, notes one industry expert. Choice and control are great benefits. Posted On E-Max health by Jesse Slome from the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care Insurance Association Commends U.S. Congressman

Los Angeles, CA – August 6, 2009 – The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance commended U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander (R – LA) today for his leadership and efforts to encourage Americans to take personal responsibility for long-term care planning. “The Congressman’s comments recommending tax deductions for individuals purchasing long-term care insurance creates an enormous incentive for people to consider this protection,” states Jesse Slome, Executive Director of the national professional organization. “When more Americans plan, the nation avoids an unsustainable liability that will fall on all taxpayers.” According to Association data, some 8.25 million individuals currently own long-term care insurance. “The Congressman’s proposal could rapidly double the number of people protected,” Slome notes. Social Security and Medicare have promised $42.9 trillion more in benefits to senior and disabled workers than the programs will be able to pay, according to a new report by the Heritage Foundation. “The Congressman understands that Americans must plan for their own future and that a tax incentive is a small price to incent action,” Slome adds.“Increased life expectancy, coupled with the rapidly aging baby boomer generation forces more Americans to face the challenges of caring for either themselves or their loved ones,” Congressman Alexander remarked. “To ease the burden and encourage taxpayers to take steps towards securing long-term care, I have introduced the Sunset of Life Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 1891). This legislation seeks to provide individuals a 50 percent non-refundable tax deduction on the cost of long-term care insurance costs.” “My intention is to minimize the need for individuals to rely on public resources in their later years by taking measures now to ensure a comfortable and complete long-term care coverage package,” he added. “As Congress looks for ways to improve the affordability and availability of quality health care for all Americans, this is an option to lessen the costs of tomorrow by investing in insurance today.” The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is the national organization serving insurance and financial professionals who market LTC solutions. The organization was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Los Angeles.

Leaders From 18 Long Term Care Partnership States To Attend LTC Agent Summit

Executives from 18 states offering long term care Partnership pla ns will attend the National LTCi Producers Summit. The Summit takes place November 14-16, 2009 at the Westin Hotel in Kansas City and brings together hundreds of producers who market long-term care insurance products. This year’s Summit will combine two conferences – the producer sales and marketing conference organized by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance and the conference for state officials organized by the Center For Healthcare Strategies (CHCS). Over 18 states will be represented each sending three or four executives from the State Medicaid office, the Department of Insurance, the Agency on Aging and State Dept. of Commerce. Summit attendees will have the opportunity to attend special Partnership workshops in addition to the extensive Summit program. States Sending Executives Include Arkansas Colorado Georgia Idaho Illinois Maryland Michigan Minnesota Missouri New Jersey Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Wisconsin South Dakota Texas Virginia Summit registration is $275 ($324 for non-Association members) through September 30th. Registration includes sessions, meals and receptions. Hotel discounts are currently available. Complete information and registration forms are available online at http://www.aaltci.org/2009summit or by calling the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance at (818) 597-3227.

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