“Shortcomings of the ACA Exchanges: Far Less Enrollment at a Much Higher Cost,” by Brian Blase, Paragon Health Institute “Please join us October 5th from 2:00-3:00pm for a quick virtual briefing on a recent report from the Paragon Health Institute, titled The Shortcomings of the ACA Exchanges: Far Less Enrollment at a Much Higher Cost. This study was authored by two health actuaries, Daniel Cruz and Greg Fann, and analyzed the efficiency of the Affordable Care Act’s individual market changes as well as the efficiency of premium subsidy expansions that occurred during both the Trump and Biden administrations. Paragon’s Brian Blase and Theo
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“More than half of older Americans will need long-term term care. Many can’t afford the rising cost,” by Eva Rothenberg, CNN “People living in low-income communities are in danger of a slew of poor health outcomes such as chronic illness and nutritional deficiencies due to higher stress levels, unstable living conditions, and a lack of access to healthy foods and health care as they age, which means lower-income earners who may not qualify for government services like Medicaid will still likely face higher premium costs if they try to buy a long-term care insurance policy.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses,
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“How Medicare Impedes Health Care Innovation,” by Brian Blase, Paragon Health Institute “Harvard Business School professor and one of the deans of consumer-driven health reform Regina Herzlinger has remarked that “choice supports competition, competition fuels innovation, and innovation is the only way to make things better and cheaper.” Unfortunately, there are significant constraints on innovation improving health care quality and driving cost reductions. Many of these problems are because of the structure of the Medicare program, an issue that Paragon’s Joe Albanese tackles in his new paper, Roadblock to Progress: How Medicare Impedes Health Care Innovation.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care
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“Gallup Poll Shows Public’s Deep Aversion to Nursing Homes, 42% of Americans Give ‘D’ or ‘F’,” by Shelby Grebbin, Skilled Nursing News “One of the central findings of the survey indicates that Americans hold a less than favorable view of nursing home quality. Over 40% of respondents gave nursing homes negative ratings for overall quality of care, with 36% assigning them a “D” (poor) grade and 6% an “F” (fail). Only a small percentage rated nursing homes positively, with just 1% giving them an “A” (excellent) and 8% a “B” (good). The average rating for nursing-home quality of care, therefore,
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“Long-Term Care Claims Skyrocket In 2022,” Advisor Magazine “Claims in the long-term care (LTC) insurance segment skyrocketed 20% in 2022, creating a difficult combination with inadequate pricing assumptions on older blocks of business that have forced significant reserve increases, according to a new AM Best report. Rising interest rates have provided some relief to the companies underwriting this high-risk product, given the potential boost to investment yields. However, the market challenges for this segment will persist despite the improved interest rate environment, according to the Best’s Market Segment Report, ‘Long-Term Care Claims Skyrocket in 2022.’” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses,
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“Study: Being a family caregiver does not mean you will plan for your own long-term care,” by Adam Healy, McKnight’s Home Care “Family caregivers are more likely to think about their own long-term care needs, but they still need support and “roadmaps” to plan for those needs. That is according to a new study sponsored by Home Instead, CLTC, Milliman, and TCare, which offers support for family caregivers. … ‘I think, in general, the whole study points to the need for the importance of education about the risks and costs, and who pays [for long-term care], which has always been important,’ lead
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“State veterans home rife with deficiencies, inaccurate COVID death reports: federal report,” by Jessica R. Towhey, McKnight’s LTC News “Two veterans’ nursing homes in New Jersey that employees described as ‘pure hell’ and ‘a battlefield’ violated residents’ Constitutional rights, federal officials said in a damning report.  The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the US Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey issued a joint report Thursday with findings of their investigation into the Veterans Memorial Homes at Menlo Park and Paramus. The 40-page report details ‘those early days [of COVID] and how the initial chaos decreased but did not end,’ eventually
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“Could legacy long-term care (LTC) blocks be the next wave of M&A deals?,” by Mike Bergerson and Prannoy Chaudhury, Milliman “Given the convergence of LTC blocks with growing credible experience data, pressure on insurers around legacy blocks (especially insurers that are publicly traded), and buyers considering the next area of focus, we would certainly say it is time for a closer value evaluation of LTC blocks by sellers and buyers in preparation for transactions in the very near future.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Excellent analysis of “What went wrong in the LTC market?”
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“Understanding the Stages of Dementia: A Compassionate Guide for Families and Caregivers,” by Jacob Maslow, Streetwise Journal “Navigating the emotional, physical, and financial intricacies of dementia can be an overwhelming experience. This comprehensive guide aims to illuminate the journey through each stage of the disease, offering insight, resources, and strategies to help families and caregivers manage challenges with resilience and compassion.” LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: What to expect if you’re expecting dementia.     Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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“Introducing OmniFlex™: A Revolutionary Short-Term Care Plan Redefining the Industry, offered by ManhattanLife,” GoldenCare “GoldenCare, an Integrity company, in partnership with ManhattanLife, is excited to announce the release of its highly anticipated product, OmniFlex. … OmniFlex redefines short-term care insurance with its simple two-tiered underwriting, making coverage accessible to a broader range of individuals. By introducing a graded-benefit concept, OmniFlex enables more people to obtain necessary coverage. Key Features and Benefits of OmniFLex: Fast-50™ Cash Benefit Option Very Affordable Premiums Built-in $300/Year Rx Benefit Full Benefits & Custodial HHC Inflation Rider Spousal Discount of 10% Optional Hospital Indemnity Rider Facility & Home
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