Important Changes to COVID Guidelines

Mutual of Omaha continues to closely monitor our new business and underwriting practices to ensure we create efficiencies and improvements when making business decisions regarding our underwriting guidelines. We are happy to announce the following changes to our COVID guidelines for Fully Underwritten Life, effective June 1, 2023. Acceptance Guidelines Based on Insured’s Issue Age: We are now accepting applications on clients through age 79 without table rating restrictions Additionally, we are now able to consider clients aged 80-85 for Standard risk class ONLY Clients with a Positive COVID Test A Statement of Good Health continues to be required if:
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Categories: COVID-19, Industry News, Life Insurance, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends May 11, 2023

The Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 ends on May 11, 2023. What does this mean for your clients? Medicare will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost. Individuals will be able to get COVID-19 PCR and antigen tests with no out-of-pocket costs when ordered by a doctor. Expanded telehealth services will continue through December 31, 2024. More Info   After May 11, 2023, Medicare will no longer cover or pay for over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests. Individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan may have more access to tests, depending on their benefits. Recommend your clients check with their plan.
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Categories: COVID-19 and Industry News.

Updates to Covid-19 Underwriting Guidelines

Mutual of Omaha continues to closely monitor our new business and underwriting practices to ensure we create efficiencies and improvements when making business decisions regarding our underwriting guidelines. We are happy to announce the following changes to our COVID guidelines for Fully Underwritten Life, effective March 1, 2023. Acceptance Guidelines Based on Insured’s Issue Age: We are now accepting applications for clients through age 74 and up to table 8, an increase from the prior Table 6 limit Ages 75-79 remain capped at Table 6 Ages 80+ continue to be postponed Clients with a Positive COVID Test A Statement of
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Categories: COVID-19, Industry News, Life Insurance, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

CareMatters COVID guidelines have been updated

CareMatters COVID guidelines have been updated Proposed Insureds with a history of COVID with no hospitalization, no tobacco use, maximum BMI of 35, and no co-morbid conditions may be able to be considered without medical records for CareMatters after 1 month of full recovery if age 49 or younger, and after 2 months of full recovery if age 50 or older. Proposed Insureds who do not meet the above and have not been hospitalized will be postponed until 3 months of full recovery is achieved and is demonstrated by a documented visit post-COVID in medical records provided at no expense
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Categories: COVID-19, Industry News, Linked Benefit/Hybrids, and Nationwide.

Fully Underwritten Life COVID-19 Updates

Mutual of Omaha has been closely monitoring our new business and underwriting practices from the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Throughout this time, we have periodically made business decisions regarding our underwriting guidelines. We are pleased to announce that we will be changing our temporary guideline changes effective August 1, 2022. These guidelines apply to all fully underwritten life insurance cases and includes all newly submitted and pending in-house cases, whether formal or informal. Acceptance Guidelines Based on Insured’s Issue Age: We will now accept applications for clients through age 79 and up to table 6 If the client is
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Categories: COVID-19, Industry News, Life Insurance, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

LTC COVID-19 Underwriting Guidelines Update

From the Desk of Allen Gregoire Mutual of Omaha has been closely monitoring our new business and underwriting practices since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, periodically making business decisions regarding our underwriting guidelines. We are pleased to announce that we are updating our long-term care insurance guidelines effective immediately. The following updates apply to all submitted and pending in-house LTCi cases: If the proposed insured, or any member of their household, has come into close contact with anyone known to the insured to have tested positive for COVID-19 and is asymptomatic, there is no required waiting period if the
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Categories: COVID-19, Industry News, Long-Term Care, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

“Covid’s Effect On Long-Term-Care Insurance”

“Covid’s Effect On Long-Term-Care Insurance,” by Ben Mattlin, Financial Advisor   Quote: “For the past few years, Covid has made everyone think a little harder about mortality and health. But now that the worst of the pandemic seems to be behind us, how has it affected long-term-care (LTC) insurance?”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Click through for several opinions on the question.             Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, and Industry News.

“COVID-19 and Long-Term Care Insurance Operations”

  “COVID-19 and Long-Term Care Insurance Operations,” by Margie Barrie, ThinkAdvisor Quote: “Facilities have a hard time keeping employees. Insurers have trouble getting the information they need to handle claims and appeals. Fraud investigators have trouble getting a good, in-person look at the people they want to see.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: ILTCI conference news.               Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, and Industry News.

“The Impact of the COVID-19 Recession on Medicaid Coverage and Spending”

“The Impact of the COVID-19 Recession on Medicaid Coverage and Spending,” by Elizabeth Williams and Robin Rudowitz, Kaiser Family Foundation   Quote: “Unlike previous recessions in modern history, this past recession was spurred by the spread of a virus (COVID-19), which created a public health crisis with unique health implications. Understanding the impact past recessions have had on Medicaid programs, early in the pandemic we began tracking employment and state revenue indicators, which can signal changes to Medicaid enrollment and have implications for state budgets. Medicaid is a counter-cyclical program, meaning that more people become eligible and enroll during economic downturns; at the
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, and Industry News.

“Covid-19 created America’s next health care crisis: The cancers we didn’t catch early”

“Covid-19 created America’s next health care crisis: The cancers we didn’t catch early,” by Dylan Scott, Vox    Quote: “The fear among doctors is that the pandemic’s disruption to cancer screenings and other preventive measures won’t just be a blip, although a blip would be bad enough on its own: When cancer gets diagnosed late, it’s less likely a patient’s doctors can successfully intervene, and the patient is more likely to die. Even a four-week delay in treatment is associated with a 6 to 13 percent higher risk of death.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, and Industry News.