“PLANNING AHEAD: Are inheritances protected and other Medicaid myths [Column],” by Janet Colliton, Times Herald   Quote: “Not only is planning possible during the five year ‘look back’ and when you are considering nursing home care, but this is where most of our planning is done — provided there are sufficient assets left to develop a plan. If it is possible, you do not want to approach a nursing home requesting admission for you or your spouse or parent when there are no, or very little assets left. The plan also has to consider what kind of care you need
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“How COVID-19 Has Changed Americans’ Views on Health Insurance,” by Michael Popke, ThinkAdvisor   Quote: “COVID-19 has made Americans more anxious about dying, becoming disabled or needing long-term care, according to the results of a recent survey conducted on behalf of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), a global trade association of life insurance and financial services professionals. The survey provides insight from more than 1,050 U.S. residents about how the pandemic has impacted their attitudes toward life, health, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance.”     LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: All I can
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“CalPERS long-term care insurance settlement: how to avoid missing out on $35,000 checks,” by Wes Venteicher, Sacramento Bee   Quote: “CalPERS agreed to pay up to $2.7 billion in July to settle the lawsuit, which was filed in 2013 by policyholders who claimed CalPERS improperly raised rates on their plans. The plans at issue came with an ‘inflation protection’ benefit and a promise that rates would remain stable. The settlement agreement gives 60,000 current policyholders a choice: they can participate in the settlement and receive a refund of all the premiums they’ve ever paid, but will lose their coverage. Or they
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“Medicare Advantage Healthcare Spending Exceeds Original Medicare: Policymakers may soon have to address inequities between Medicare Advantage healthcare spending and Medicare spending,” by Kelsey Waddill, Health Payer Intelligence   Quote: “Escalations in Medicare Advantage healthcare spending—along with higher traditional Medicare spending—could drive scarcity in the Medicare hospital insurance trust fund and could boost Medicare Part B premiums, Kaiser Family Foundation researchers found. Despite the savings that a value-based care model affords for beneficiaries, Medicare Advantage spending is higher than traditional Medicare. Furthermore, healthcare spending is growing at a faster rate in Medicare Advantage than fee-for-service Medicare. The researchers leveraged publicly
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“5 Ways to Keep People With LTC Insurance Healthy,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor   Quote: “Assured Allies is now working with LTCG, a company that runs many insurers’ LTCI programs, to market the Age Assured elder wellness program to LTCI insureds. Assured Allies will work with LTCG to offer program participants case management services, fall prevention support, caregiver training and other support services.”     LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Prevention is the best medicine and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Why has it taken so long to incorporate
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