“Long-Term Care Insurer Pain May Hit More Companies”

“Long-Term Care Insurer Pain May Hit More Companies,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “Some state insurance regulators want to increase the number of insurers that help protect consumers against long-term care insurance (LTCI) issuer failures. . . . The team hopes to pull at least some health maintenance organizations into the guaranty associations that protect health insurers against insolvencies. The team may also try to merge the guaranty association accounts for health insurers with the accounts for issuers of life insurance and annuities.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Something tells me HMOs and life
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“New report details way to finance LTSS”

“New report details way to finance LTSS,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnight’s Senior Living “A universal, catastrophic insurance program sufficiently could finance the needs of those who need long-term services and supports, and a ‘managed cash’ benefit design might best pay for service delivery, LeadingAge concluded in a report issued Wednesday. The report is titled ‘A New Vision for Long-Term Services and Supports.’” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): The key word missing in this summary and in the report itself is “compulsory.” LeadingAge (formerly the American Association of Homes and Services for the
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

NGL: New Adverse Underwriting Form Available

On August 11, 2017, National Guardian Life is making a new Adverse Underwriting Form available. This new optional form, if completed and submitted along with the consumer application, allows underwriting to share additional information with the agent regarding an adverse underwriting decision. The new Adverse Underwriting Form (NLTC-0324) is now available on NGL’s Agent Resource Center (log-in required), by clicking the Forms menu option, and clicking under Additional Documents/Forms in the lower right corner. Or, view/print this form below: Adverse Underwriting Form (NLTC-0324)   If you have questions , please call NGL at (888) 505-2332 or email status@ngl-essentialLTC.com.   #goldencareagent
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Categories: Industry News, Long-Term Care, and National Guardian Life.

EssentialLTC News: Upcoming State Releases

National Guardian Life is pleased to answer one of the most frequently asked questions – “Which states are next?” Upcoming State Releases: • Indiana — August 21st • Florida, California, New Jersey, Hawaii — End of 2017 / Early 2018 • Partnership Compact States — End of 2017 If you have questions , please call NGL at (888) 505-2332 or email status@ngl-essentialLTC.com.   #goldencareagent #ngl
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Categories: Industry News, Long-Term Care, and National Guardian Life.

“Firm Proposes Long-Term Care Insurance Run-Off Program”

“Firm Proposes Long-Term Care Insurance Run-Off Program,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “Luann Petrellis of PricewaterhouseCoopers and Richard Newton of International Solutions L.L.C. briefed a group of state insurance regulators, at the Long-Term Care Insurance Task Force, on the LTCI run-off facility proposal last month. The consultants said the facility would give insurers a transparent, carefully regulated place to put unwanted blocks of LTCI business. . . . A run-off facility that absorbed blocks from many different issuers could help make the process of administering the blocks more efficient, by having one team oversee many blocks, rather than having each issuer continue to
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Study Links Moderate Drinking to Reduced Risk of Dementia”

  “Study Links Moderate Drinking to Reduced Risk of Dementia,” HealthDay “Moderate drinking may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia in seniors, a new study suggests. . . . Among men and women 85 and older, those who drank moderate amounts of alcohol five to seven days a week were twice as likely to show no signs of dementia than non-drinkers, according to the study in the August issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. . . . Previous studies have found a link between moderate alcohol intake and longevity. . . . Excessive drinking over a long
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

Important Compensation Reminder

Please keep addresses up to date. There are many opportunities for General Agents to receive information regarding Compensation Schedule changes, including commission rate changes, compliance changes, and more. When the General Agent’s mailing or email address is not kept current, it results in returned mail. If any mail is returned to Mutual of Omaha due to any address discrepancy, Mutual of Omaha will note the return of mail, and discontinue sending out any additional commission schedule notifications. Please contact Producer Services at Producer.Services.Support@mutualofomaha.com should you wish to update your address or email address; or send an email to broker.compensation@mutualofomaha.com, if
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Categories: Critical Illness, Disability Income Insurance, Industry News, Life Insurance, Long-Term Care, Medicare Supp./Adv., and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

Plan Ahead for Life Insurance Awareness Month

Of course, for those of us in the insurance business, every month is Life Insurance Awareness Month. But each September, you have a special opportunity to share what you do with clients, prospects and your communities in general. Throughout September, advertising for Life Insurance Awareness Month will appear in national media coverage, so that makes it a perfect time for you to contact clients and prospects to perform a review of their life insurance coverage. To assist you in your efforts, here are a few key pieces we have available to help you plan ahead: A Life Insurance Awareness Month
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Categories: Industry News, Life Insurance, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

Medicare Supplement News – Omaha Family of Companies

2017 Med Supp Buyers Guide Available The 2017 buyer’s guide, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare, is now available to order.   Standardized Rate Adjustment* The following 1990 Standardized blocks of business will experience rate adjustments effective October 1, 2017. United of Omaha    •  Virginia The following 1990 Standardized blocks of business will experience rate adjustments effective November 1, 2017. United World    •  Oregon * Policies effective prior to June 1, 2010. Notifications If you have clients affected by these rate adjustments, you will receive notification via email with a link when your
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Categories: Industry News, Medicare Supp./Adv., and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

Quick Tip: Quoting with MutualCare® Solutions Software

Scenario: You’ve downloaded the MutualCare® Solutions software, and you’re ready to quote a long-term care insurance plan for your clients! But where do you start? How do you determine appropriate coverage amounts? Build Custom Solution quotes with Mutual of Omaha like a pro! GoldenCare recently developed a Strategic Guide to customizing Mutual of Omaha Long-Term Care Insurance quotes. Download this complimentary Quoting Guide here This guide offers helpful suggestions and recommendations on: determining health rating, with a link to Mutual of Omaha’s current Underwriting Guide how to choose a Monthly Benefit, with a link to Omaha’s latest Cost of Care
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Categories: GoldenCare News, Long-Term Care, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).