Blog - Page 24 of 75 - Howard Gleckman

Private Equity Firms Are Acquiring Long-Term Care Insurance Policies. What Will It Mean For Policyholders?

Some long-term care insurance companies are turning over their existing policies to private equity firms and other outside investors, a move that will wipe massive liabilities off their books but could put policyholders at risk. The problem: Unlike traditional insurance companies, private equity investors may be investing premiums in high-yielding but speculative securities such as junk corporate bonds. Such a [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-06-28T14:47:09-04:00June 28th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments

An Ambitious State-Based Plan for Universal Family Care That Falls Just Short On Long-Term Care

These days, efforts to reform our broken system of long-term care are being led by the states. To support and build on those programs, the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) released an ambitious agenda for structuring and financing programs to help families support their loved ones. The NASI framework, called Universal Family Care, goes far beyond long-term care financing. It [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-06-28T10:52:44-04:00June 28th, 2019|long term care reform|0 Comments

A Top House Democrat Mulls A Medigap Long-Term Care Benefit

House Ways & Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-MA) is mulling a plan to add a limited long-term care benefit to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance. Minnesota proposed a similar plan last year. And the idea would expand to traditional Medicare a recent innovation that added limited supports and services to Medicare Advantage managed care plans. Neal is the second key [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-06-10T16:58:42-04:00June 10th, 2019|long-term care insurance|1 Comment

Too Many Older Adults Are Needlessly Falling, Endangering Themselves and Costing Billions

One of every three older Americans falls every year. Among those 75 and older, the number of falls-related deaths tripled to more than 25,000 from 2000 to 2016. Even after adjusting for age, the mortality rate for falls roughly doubled over that period. Of every 100,000 people age 75 and older, 122 will die from a fall. Falls not only [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-06-05T10:26:04-04:00June 5th, 2019|Caregiver tips|0 Comments

The Trump Administration Is Looking At Tax Breaks And Other Ways To Boost Private Long-Term Care Insurance

The Trump Administration is (very quietly) looking at ways to reinvigorate the flagging private long-term care (LTC) insurance market. The recommendations are expected to surface later this year. And they likely will be very modest. The ideas being considered would make some regulatory changes and create new tax subsidies to encourage consumers to purchase private LTC insurance. They would send [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-05-24T08:36:21-04:00May 24th, 2019|long-term care financing, long-term care insurance|4 Comments

It’s Official: Washington Will Be The First State With Public Long-Term Care Insurance

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed into law the nation’s first public state-operated long-term care insurance program. The Long-Term Care Trust Act will pay benefits of up to $36,500 for those who need assistance with regular daily activities such as eating, bathing, or help with medications. The benefits initially will be funded with a payroll tax of 0.58 percent on [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-05-15T14:06:44-04:00May 15th, 2019|long-term care financing|4 Comments

How To Help Middle-Income Seniors Pay For Their Long-Term Care Needs

Recent articles in the journal Health Affairs attempted to attach numbers to a problem that millions of American families are intimately aware of: Many middle-income older adults cannot afford to pay their out-of-pocket costs for health care and senior housing. And the problem is going to get worse once the Baby Boomers begin to hit their late 70s and early [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-05-10T16:20:20-04:00May 10th, 2019|long-term care financing|0 Comments

Can Managed Care Plans Reduce Health Care Costs By Providing Social Supports? Maybe.

Many policymakers, health care and insurance executives, and consumer advocates argue that better integrating medical care with long-term supports and services (LTSS) can both save money and improve the well-being of frail elders and younger people with disabilities. It seems logical, and there is some tantalizing evidence that it is true. Unfortunately, health care is filled with ideas that sound [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-05-01T10:31:56-04:00May 1st, 2019|Care Coordination|1 Comment

A Tool That Helps Family Caregivers Map Their Support Systems

You are caring for a loved one. On top of everything else, you feel absolutely alone—as if you are doing this tough work with no help. But maybe, just maybe, you have more support than you think. A creative tool called Atlas CareMaps is a deceptively simple but powerful way to identify all the connections in your life. It helps [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-04-22T11:10:08-04:00April 22nd, 2019|family caregivers|1 Comment

Washington State’s Public Long-Term Care Insurance Program Is On The Verge Of Becoming Law

A first-in-the-nation state long-term care insurance program is likely to become law within a few weeks. In Washington State, both houses of the legislature have approved the measure, though they must resolve relatively minor differences between the two bills. Gov. Jay Inslee has promised to sign it. Washington would be the first state in the US to enact a public [...]

By Howard Gleckman|2019-04-18T18:28:11-04:00April 18th, 2019|long-term care financing, long-term care insurance|0 Comments