“Nebraska’s new system for administering the bulk of its Medicaid program has gotten off to a rocky start. Nearly five months after its launch, the system has left behavioral health and home health providers fuming over unpaid claims and frustrated about getting care authorized for patients. Unpaid Medicaid claims topped $300,000 for one agency, prompting it to take out a line of credit for the first time in its 44 years. Providers also are worrying about how long they can afford to keep seeing Medicaid patients.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Read this
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“Medicaid can collect SNF room-and-board costs, state high court rules,” by Emily Mongan
“Nebraska’s Medicaid program can claim reimbursement from beneficiaries for skilled nursing room-and-board costs, the state’s high court ruled on Friday.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Chalk up a win for the good guys. Why should heirs profit from shunting LTC liability onto taxpayers? Medicaid can collect SNF room-and-board costs, state high court rules #goldencareagent #medicaid #nebraska
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“New Gene Tests Pose a Threat to Insurers,” by Gina Kolata, New York Times
“But for companies selling long-term care insurance, these tests could be a disaster, sending risky patients in search of policies even as those with fewer risks shy away, damaging an already fragile business. ‘There is a question about whether the industry is in a death spiral anyway,’ said Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. ‘This could make it worse.’” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): There is a simple solution to this dilemma. Allow LTCI carriers to make testing for the “Alzheimer’s gene” a condition of applying for coverage.
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“Annuities may create too much income,” by Cassandra Jones, The Record-Courier
“One of the questions I regularly get is whether a person is automatically disqualified from Medicaid if he or her income is too high. The short answer is no. . . . As a practitioner in elder law, one of the biggest areas of concern I have is the over use of annuities to provide for the care of an individual. Done wrong, the asset you just converted to an annuity may cause an individual to have too much income if the applicant needs to apply for government benefits. It may ultimately result in someone converting retirement assets into a
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“IRS announces bump in 2018 HSA limits,” by Kathryn Mayer, Employee Benefit News
“The annual limit on deductible contributions to a health savings account will jump by $50 in calendar year 2018 for individuals and $150 for families, according to the IRS. For 2018, the annual contribution limitation for a person with self-only coverage under a high-deductible health plan is $3,450, up from $3,400 in calendar year 2017, the IRS announced last week. The annual limit on deductible contributions for a person with family coverage under a high-deductible health plan will be $6,900 in 2018, up from $6,750 in 2017.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): HSAs
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Options for Paying LTC Costs
There’s a real good chance that, at some point in their lifetime, an individual will need long-term care services costing them as much as $8,000 per month. How could you help prepare your clients for this anticipated expense? In his recent Kiplinger article entitled, “Don’t Let Long-Term Care Costs Devastate Your Retirement“, Jared E. Elson, an investment adviser, provides various options you might consider when helping your clients tackle this pricey problem. Don’t Let Long-Term Care Costs Devastate Your Retirement Article and information brought to us by United Security Assurance. #goldencareagent #unitedsecurity #longtermcare
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Medicare Supplement News – Sentinel Security Life
Medicare Supplement Replacements Notifying another company that coverage is being replaced is the responsibility of the insured or agent. Unlike life insurance replacements, state regulations do not require Sentinel to notify the replaced company when a new policy is issued. Federal regulations do not allow more than one Medicare Supplement/Medicare Advantage to stay in force at the same time, making it very important that the other coverage is replaced at the same time the new coverage takes effect. Please note: if coverage overlaps, and a change in effective date is requested, any premium refunded will include a deduction of claims
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Sentinel: New Vantage Tele-App
Sentinel Security Life is proud to introduce the New Vantage telephone application submission process. This new submission process allows you to complete 100% of an application over the phone. The tele-app also includes a point-of-sale underwriting decision which allows you to know if the policy is approved, rated, or declined before ending the call. • Average call lasts 20-25 minutes • No Phone Health Interview • All signatures and disclosures are voice recorded • Avoids incomplete applications Click on the link below to review the Tele-app instructional guide. If you have any questions please call the Sentinel Security Life Sales
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“Getting lost could be the first sign of Alzheimer’s, finds new study,” by Rachael Revesz, Independent
“Getting lost, even if you are in a familiar location, could be one of the first signs of Alzheimer’s, scientists have discovered. A new study from Edinburgh University called the Prevent project, which involves other UK research centres, aims to discover the first symptoms of the disease in people when they are still young. . . . Scientists claim . . . that medication is more potent if used on patients during the earlier stages of the disease, and that a healthy lifestyle can also prevent its potential development.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care
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“Profile: Christopher Perna,” by Elizabeth Leis Newman, McKnight’s Long Term Care News
“Perna spent 25 years in a successful career in the insurance industry in executive roles, including moving to Rochester, NY, in 1999 to head MedAmerica. . . . Moving to Eden came after a hiatus from the insurance industry, Perna says, when he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next. After having a conversation with Eden Alternative founder Bill Thomas, M.D., Perna accepted the group’s role of president and CEO in 2010. Thomas says he knew Perna was right because ‘he was able to reconcile the competing demands of the head and the heart.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A.
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