“Medicare spending expected to top $1 trillion this year, CMS says,” by Kathleen Steele Galvin, McKnight’s Senior Living  “Medicare expenditures are expected to exceed $1 trillion despite the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency this year, the associated expirations of the skilled nursing facility three-day stay rule waiver and the 20% payment increase for inpatient COVID-19 admissions, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare spending growth is projected to accelerate from 4.8% in 2022 to 8% in 2023, according to the study, which also will appear in
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  “What to Know About Buying Long-Term Care Insurance,” with Richard Eisenberg, Terry Savage and Brian Gordon, Friends Talk Money  “A guide to who should consider buying a long-term care insurance policy, what these policies do and don’t cover, what age to consider buying it and the newer versions known as hybrid policies and 10-Pay policies. Our guest: Brian Gordon, a long-term care insurance policy expert with Gordon Associates in Bannockburn, Ill.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Listen to this fascinating podcast covering the need for LTC insurance, LTC provider inflation, drastic LTCI premium
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“Long Term Care Insurance & Inflation,” by Terry Savage, TerrySavage.com   “1. If you have an older Long Term Care Insurance policy and the premium jumps, ask an expert to evaluate your options, which may include giving up inflation protection or shortening the coverage period. But, if possible, don’t just drop your coverage, letting the insurance company have a windfall of the premiums already paid. “2. Look into a new ‘combo’ life/long term care insurance policy, where premiums can never go up and where the coverage can never decline. With one large payment, or a series of payments over 5-15
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“New tool detects falls 32 days before they happen,” by Christine Birkner, McKnight’s Senior Living    “Preventable falls are a leading cause of death among nursing home and senior living patients, so using new technologies to predict and prevent them is crucial. One new tool uses a smartwatch to detect signs of falls as much as 32 days before they happen.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: I missed a handicap ramp curb (how ironic is that?) and fell flat with my laptop and cell phone flying forward and leaving me hobbling with a sprained ankle for a week.
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“It’s no better in 16 years of long-term care study in SD,” by Rae Yost, Keloland.com “There is an increasing government effort to create public programs to solve the pressing long term care conundrum. This article will examine the causes of this effort and progress to date. … The State of Washington, with its high costs of care and its liberal governor, Jay Inslee, became the first state to mandate a public long term care insurance program. … California has been the state that has spent the most time and money to come up with a program, and is being
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“Public Long Term Care Insurance Programs,” by Louis H. Brownstone, Broker World  “There is an increasing government effort to create public programs to solve the pressing long term care conundrum. This article will examine the causes of this effort and progress to date. … The State of Washington, with its high costs of care and its liberal governor, Jay Inslee, became the first state to mandate a public long term care insurance program. … California has been the state that has spent the most time and money to come up with a program, and is being watched carefully by a
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“Social Security COLA Estimated at 2.7% for 2024 as Inflation Cools,” by John Manganaro, ThinkAdvisor “The estimate reflects a 0.1% rise in prices in May and a 4% increase over the prior 12 months, according to The Senior Citizens League. Social Security benefits have lost significant purchasing power since 2000, according to the advocacy group. The actual 2024 COLA will be based on third-quarter inflation data and will be announced in October.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Social Security beneficiaries slip further behind the inflation curve. That hurts them, but also reduces LTC providers’
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