“Everything You Need To Know About The New Medicare Cards (But Beware Of Scams),” by Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News Quote: “In April, the government will start sending out new Medicare cards, launching a massive, yearlong effort to alter how 59 million people enrolled in the federal health insurance program are identified.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):  Why do I worry the government will find a way to mess this up too? Everything You Need To Know About The New Medicare Cards (But Beware Of Scams) #medicare #goldencareagent
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“Dementia study links your risk with your fitness level,” by Jacqueline Howard, CNN Quote: “Your stamina — or the time it takes for you to reach peak exhaustion during exercise — can be tied to your dementia risk, and a new study reveals how. The study, published Wednesday in the medical journal Neurology, found that women with high cardiovascular fitness, or high stamina, had an 88% lower risk of dementia than women who were moderately fit.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):  All right, ladies. Time to hit the gym. Dementia study links your
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“Skilled Nursing Occupancy to Keep Falling in 2018,” by Alex Spanko, Skilled Nursing News Quote: “Skilled nursing occupancy rates, already sitting at record lows, will continue to plummet in 2018 according to the most recent projections from Marcus & Millichap. The commercial real estate brokerage predicts that skilled nursing occupancy will fall to 85.3%, a dip of 80 basis points and a new low for the decade. ‘The skilled nursing segment is undergoing many changes, and health care reform specifically related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements is causing some facilities to shift focus from long-stay custodial-care residents to focus on
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“How In-House Insurance Plans Can Boost Skilled Nursing’s Fortunes,” by Alex Spanko, Skilled Nursing News Quote: “In an era of record-low skilled nursing occupancy and rapidly shifting payment models, some operators have found a single solution to both problems: an in-house insurance plan. Skilled nursing providers can create their own institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs), a type of Medicare Advantage program specifically designed to cover beneficiaries who are confined to an institution or who require in-home nursing care. The benefits of jumping into the insurance marketplace can be tantalizing. For instance, the designers of an I-SNP can choose to waive the
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“Americans Are Spending More But Planning Less For Caregiving,” InsuranceNewsNet Quote: “The latest Northwestern Mutual C.A.R.E. Study released today finds that Americans are feeling increasing financial and lifestyle pressure due to caring for an elderly relative or friend. Despite the challenges, 4 in 10 caregivers (39%) took on the role because ‘it is what [their] family has always done’ while more than a quarter (27%) said ‘there was no other option.’ “‘This study validates the importance of thinking ahead, which empowers people to create options by taking control of the process,’ said Kamilah Williams-Kemp, vice president, long-term care, Northwestern Mutual.”
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“One State’s Quest to Introduce Long-Term Care Benefits,” by Ron Lieber, New York Times Quote: “For a few weeks this year, the rarest of things seemed like it was about to occur. A state, in this case Washington, was working to pass a bill that would institute a new payroll tax to help cover the cost of a much-needed service: long-term care in a nursing home, in a personal residence or elsewhere in the local community. Rarer still: At least a couple of Republicans, including one of the bill’s primary sponsors, supported the tax proposal. Eligible adults were to receive
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“What the Rise of Medicare Advantage Means for Skilled Nursing,” by Alex Spanko, Skilled Nursing News Quote: “About 33% of seniors enrolled in the Medicare program have elected to use managed Medicare Advantage plans, and that number is expected to grow — potentially faster than the government thinks. The Congressional Budget Office has predicted growth in MA plans by about 4% per year, but Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, says his company projects the pace at closer to 6% or 7% per year. ‘More and more seniors are voting with their feet,’ Mendelson told an audience at the National
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“What influences older adults’ preferences for care?,” MedicalPress Quote: “The researchers found that support from family was the most important influence on care preferences for older adults. But people also usually formed their preferences based on a variety of factors. They also discovered that it was unusual for older adults to know their care preferences or to have a clear understanding of how they formed their preferences. “The key findings of this study were: The level of support from families was the most important influence on care preferences. Often, older adults changed their preferences based on the concerns of family
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“Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Long-Term-Care Insurance,” by Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger Quote: “Q: Can I withdraw money tax-free from my health savings account to pay my long-term-care insurance premiums? If I can, is there a limit to the amount I can use? Does it have to be for a stand-alone long-term-care policy, or can it be for a life insurance policy with long-term-care benefits, too?” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):  Click through to the article for the answers. Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Long-Term-Care Insurance #longtermcare #goldencareagent
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