Long Term Care Planning Advisory Center

Medicare Insurance Information Center Launched

2022-12-20T12:12:00.003-08:00

An online center designed to provide seniors with the most relevant Medicare information was launched today by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI).

"There's so much Medicare material scattered across the Internet that our plan is to have one place where seniors can find the most current and relevant information," explains Jesse Slome, director of the Medicare-focused organization.

The Association's Medicare Information Center will serve as a resource for general Medicare information. In addition, the latest posts pertaining to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and prescription drug plans will be included.

"Medicare is one of the most complicated programs with new information and changes occurring almost daily," Slome notes. "Consumer inquiries to our organization are increasing which told me there was a definite need for information that can be readily available to the millions of Americans covered by the Medicare program."

Seniors are using the Internet to find the information they need to make educated decisions, Slome adds. "The new Medicare Information Center dovetails with the Association's free resource that enables individuals to find local Medicare insurance agents in their specific Zip Code," the Medicare insurance expert noted.

To access the Association's new Information center, go to https://www.medicaresupp.org/information or visit the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance website. AAMSI advocates for the importance of consumer awareness and supports insurance and financial professionals who market Medicare insurance solutions.

2020-03-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

To help consumers understand the affordability of cancer insurance and critical illness insurance, an online calculator has been introduced by the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance.

"Cost is always a critical factor when consumers are considering a purchase and that's especially true with insurance products today," states Jesse Slome, director of the critical illness insurance organization. "The Association's new cost calculator will appear at the very top of almost every page on our new website and provide instant costs for $10,000 of cancer insurance."

The critical illness insurance cost calculator merely requires the consumer enter their sex, age and whether they are a smoker or non-smoker. "There is no personal information needed to immediately see the cost," Slome explains. "The cost appears immediately and we don't ask or want to gather any personal information. We merely are striving to show consumers how affordable this important coverage can be."

Slome noted that the decision to show the cost for $10,000 of cancer insurance was made to be most beneficial to the largest number of young adults. "For millions of Americans between the ages of 35 and 55, cancer is the critical illness they are most likely to have prior to reaching age 65 to 70," Slome shares. "The average critical illness insurance policy purchased today is around $15,000 in benefits, so the modest policy seemed to make the most sense. Obviously, if someone wants more coverage, they can easily estimate what their potential cost might be."

The critical illness insurance cost calculator is designed to demonstrate the affordability of cancer insurance and encourage consumers to seek actual pricing for coverage options. "When consumers hear they can purchase cancer insurance protection for the cost of one or two cups of coffee a month, they'll be interested enough to take the next steps to learn more,:" Slome predicts.

The calculator revealed that a male, age 45 who does not use tobacco could pay as little as $48 a year for $10,000 of cancer insurance. A female, age 45 who uses tobacco would pay $108 yearly for the same level of insurance. "I chose to show smoker and non-smoker rates because it shows the numbers most fairly," Slome adds. "When rates are the same for both, the non-smokers are more or less subsidizing some of the added risk of insuring smokers."

To learn more and access the critical illness insurance cost calculator, visit the Association's website at www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org.

Jesse Slome is founder and director of the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance, headquartered in Westlake Village, California. Slome also heads up the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance as well as the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Florida Has Most Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies

2012-09-19T08:05:00.002-07:00

Nearly 10 million Americans have Medicare Supplement insurance, also commonly called Medigap insurance according to a report that analyzed the top 10 states.

Nearly 570,000 Florida residents have the coverage, according to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance an organization established to create awareness. Pennsylvania ranked second with just over 612,000 residents having the protection.

“Medicare has four parts and while it covers an enormous amount of the potential cost of health care, it does not cover everything which is why many people opt for additional private Medicare supplement insurance coverage,” Slome explains. “Insurers offer a variety of plans that provide individuals with enormous flexibility.”

According to the Association’s analysis, the top 10 states with the most policyholders are:
Florida (655,741)
Pennsylvania (612,073)
Texas (568,168)
North Carolina (374,160)
Michigan (364,831)
Ohio (354,918)
New York (354,777)
New Jersey (350,603)
California (338,502)
Indiana (292,832)

There are 12 standardized Medicare Supplemental insurance plans - A through L. Medicare Supplement is often also called Medigap. Each plan has different benefits. Plan A has the fewest and is the least expensive. Plan J has the most and is the most expensive.

It is important to note that all 12 Medicare Supplemental insurance plans are not available in every state. In addition, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have their own plans (each with different names). But the state-specific plan benefits are similar to the "national" plans.

The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance and the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance were established to advocate for the importance of planning and to support insurance and financial professionals who market Medigap insurance. To learn more about and obtain Medicare Supplement insurance costs call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3205 or visit the Association’s website.

Long Term Care Insurance Association Extends Consumer Awareness Campaign

2012-08-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

The latest extension of the national campaign to heighten awareness of the importance for long-term care insurance planning focuses on smart and affordable ways to plan in the “new economy”.

The special insert appears in the current issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine according to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term CareInsurance responsible for the Fresh Perspectives on Long-Term Care Planning awareness campaign.

“We must recognize that we live, work and sell in a new economy and that doing things the same old way simply won’t generate desired results,” declares Slome. “It is vital to educate consumers that taking advantage of alternate policy design strategies can make this important protection far more affordable than many people think.”

One million Americans will see issues of the national personal finance magazine during August and September according to Slome. “We believe a campaign focused on those individuals who are most likely to actually plan for long term care is a far more effective use of limited dollars,” Slome a leading long term care insurance expert explains. With support of leading long term care insurers the Association has been placing a series of consumer education inserts into leading publications. “Each insert has a highly targeted message designed to educate and generate interest in learning more about LTC insurance,” Slome adds. Reprints of the inserts have been made available by supporting insurers.

The current insert suggests consumers consider leaving off traditional inflation protection. “The old five percent compound inflation standard makes coverage more costly than many are willing to spend,” Slome notes. “Our belief is that some coverage is always better than none and if selecting a different option or purchasing a higher daily benefit and foregoing inflation protection may make sense for some consumers.”

The Association plans to run one additional consumer insert during November’s Long Term Care Awareness month.

Cheap E & O Insurance Program Launched

2012-08-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

A new low-cost E and O insurance plan for life and health insurance agents has been launched this week by the American Association for Critical Illness Insurance (AACII).

“Open enrollment for the just launched E&O program begins this week,” states Jesse Slome, executive director of the trade organization that sponsors the program. “We are making cheap E&O coverage available to agents in all 50 states who can successfully answer eight simple online questions,” Slome explains. The association’s sponsored E&O product provides a $1 million limit of liability for each claim with a $1,000 deductible per-claim.

“A special provision of the program makes coverage available for new insurance agents,” Slome adds. The plan has available options for insurance agencies and their staff members. “Unlike other organizations which require agents to pay an additional annual membership fee amounting to hundreds of dollars, we are continuing to offer free membership to insurance agents and brokers who wish to learn more about marketing and selling critical illness protection,” Slome declares.

Open enrollment for the AACII group policy has started with premiums for the full year of coverage starting at $515. “An agent can sign up now as the new program commences or they can sign-up at any point for coverage and will pay the pro-rated premium which can be as low as $103,” Slome explains. The program offers instant online approval and certificates are immediately available. “The cheap E&O provider even accepts credit card payments, ideal for those who like to accumulate points,” Slome adds.

For additional information call the Association at (818) 597-3205 or visit their website www.criticalillnessinsuranceinfo.org/eo for complete information and the online E&O application and certificate.

New Form Of Long Term Care Insurance Attracting Younger Buyers

2012-04-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

The sale of asset-based long-term care insurance protection continued to grow significantly according to research by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance the national trade organization. According to data gathered from leading long term care insurance providers, premium increased nearly 20 percent and the number of covered lives increased 13.5 percent.

"We expect the sale of asset based or linked LTC products will continue to grow as they offer some highly attractive benefits to a category of buyers looking to protect their retirement savings," states Jesse Slome, AALTCI's director. "The growth of sales will only continue as more large players enter the marketplace.” Pacific Life recently introduced a universal life insurance policy that provides long-term care benefits.

According to the Association's annual study of new policy sales, more than half (53%) of male buyers were under age 65. In the prior year’s study, only 48 percent were under age 65. The percentage of women buyers under age 65 also increased to 50 percent, up from 44 percent in the prior year.

"We are seeing two market conditions fueling growth,” Slome explains. “Younger buys facing a long time horizon before needing care favor the money-back provision of these policies and older buyers are being priced out of the market for traditional long-term care insurance making this a more attractive option.” “At a time when long-term care is increasingly top of mind, these life insurance-based solutions avoid the ‘use it or lose it’ risk associated with traditional long term care insurance,” says Chris Coudret, CLU, ChFC, Vice President, OneAmerica one of the nation’s leading insurers offering linked benefit solutions. “In most cases, people make a single payment, effectively removing the risk of future premium increases.”

For 2011, the Association study found that the initial single premium face amount of policies purchased was $100,000 or greater for nearly three-quarters (73%) of new policies. In addition, the vast majority (96%) of new Life+LTC policies issued did not include a benefit increase option that bumped up available benefits to keep pace with inflationary growth of costs. By comparison, the Association's study of traditional individual long-term care insurance policy sales, found that in 2011 some 96 percent included a growth option.

The complete findings will be published in the Association's 2012 Long-Term Care Insurance Sourcebook. Founded in 1998, the AALTCI is the national trade organization established to educate both consumers and financial professionals about the importance of long-term care planning.

Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Information Website Launched

2012-02-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

A consumer educational website focused on the Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership program has been launched by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) the national trade group focused on creating heightened awareness of the importance of long term care planning.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of AALTCI, the Partnership programs provide some very unique asset protection benefits designed to encourage more middle income individuals to undertake long term care planning.

Connecticut was one of the four original states to offer the special Long Term Care Partnership program, Slome explains. New York, California and Indiana were the other three original states launched in the early 1990s.

“The Partnership program was originally made possible by grants from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation with the specific goal of making affordable long term care insurance protection available and attractive to as many individuals as possible,” Slome adds.

Connecticut residents are eligible for the program that can only be offered by approved insurers and licensed professionals who take part in special training. The Association will be working closely with designated professionals to help consumers seeking information as well as cost proposals for this important protection.

The web address for the new website is http://www.connecticutpartnershiponly.com and provides the latest information on the program. AALTCI recently posted a website for New York residents interested in partnership information. The New York Long Term Care Partnership website provides New York residents with meaningful information.

Established in 1998, the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance is the national organization created to educate consumers about the importance of long term care planning and to support insurance professionals who market these products.

Long Term Care Insurance Sales Awards Open

2012-01-03T09:08:00.001-08:00

The Long Term Care Insurance Sales Achievement Awards will be open for entries on January 1, 2012.

The yearly award based on 2011 sales is organized by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), the national trade organization. The 2011 award ranked producers from all states broken down into categories including individual LTC insurance, multilife long term care as well as sales of asset-based annuity and life insurance products offering long term care benefits.

The awards are designed to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements by those working to educate and help protect Americans. “From those producers just starting out to the many seasoned specialists, there’s no more passionate and hard-working group of professionals than those selling long-term care insurance protection,” explains Jesse Slome, AALTCI’s executive director.

A special “Rookie of the Year” category now recognizes those producers who first started selling in 2011. A key component of the awards program is the State-by-State ranking. “This gives 50 agents the opportunity to show that they are number 1 in their particular state,” Slome explains. “That’s certainly a powerful marketing tool and these leaders are often called on to teach others and share their knowledge.”

Online applications are available at www.aaltci.org/awards. The closing date for free entries is February 29.

Established in 1998, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is the national trade organization that supports insurance professionals as well as conducts awareness programs to educate American adults about the importance of long-term care planning.

More Seniors Surviving Cancer Adds To Long-Term Care Crisis

2011-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

Over the next decade there will be a dramatic rise in the number of people over the age of 65 either living with cancer or with a history of the disease according to a new study.

According to an analysis of US cancer data, the greying of the baby boomer generation is at the root of the issue. "Americans are already living longer lives and that will create a long-term care tsunami in the years to come," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the Los Angeles-based American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. "Because long-term care insurance can only be purchased when you can medically qualify, the tsunami will wreak havoc on family savings and state Medicaid welfare budgets."

National Cancer Institute (NCI) researchers found the number of people over age 65 with cancer will rise by about 42% in the next decade. Cancer is largely a disease of aging, the researchers noted.

The scientists analyzed data the revealed that in 1971, the number of people in the US who had survived cancer was about 3 million. By 2008, the figure had risen to nearly 12 million. In 2008, the proportion of cancer survivors aged 65 and over was 60% and is set to reach 63% by 2020.

The most commonly diagnosed cancers among survivors were: female breast cancer (22% of diagnoses), prostate cancer (20%), and colorectal cancer (9%).

The high rate of survival among this population is most likely due to improved detection and screening.

In contrast, the percentage of lung cancer survivors is only 3%, despite it being by far the most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women.

"When you live a long life and now are even more likely to survive diseases like cancer, you are increasingly likely to need costly long term care, states Slome. "With more Americans living into their 80s and beyond, having a long term care plan in place is more important than ever."

Financial planning experts note that most people wait too long to consider their options because the right time to plan is prior to turning age 65 before medical conditions like cancer, high blood pressure are diagnosed or become problematic. "The sweet spot for long term care insurance is between ages 52 and 64," Slome adds.

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association's Consumer Information center where you can also access long term care insurance companies ratings.

Long Term care Insurance Expert Reports Low Vitamin B12 Linked To Cognitive Decline In Elderly

2011-09-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Older individuals who have low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood have a greater risk of brain shrinkage, losing cognitive skills and greater risk of needing long term health care.

"The number of U.S. adults aged 65 years and older is projected to nearly double over the next two decades," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, the national trade organization. "As a result, the incidence of cognitive issues especially Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is also expected to rise as will the need for costly long term care."

According to Chicago researchers foods rich in vitamin B12 include those derived from animals and include, eggs, milk, liver, meat, and fish. Vitamin B12 plays a key role in normal nervous system functioning and brain development. It is also involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Scientists undertook a study of individuals aged at least 65 years. They underwent blood tests to check for B12 and B12-related metabolites levels. They were also assessed for memory and other cognitive skills. Some five years later magnetic resonance imaging scans of their brains were taken to measure comparative brain size and to identify other signs of brain damage.

Those with four of five markers for vitamin B12 deficiency were found to have a higher risk of getting lower cognitive test scores and smaller total brain volumes. The National Institute of Aging funded the study.

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in normal nervous system functioning and brain development. It is also involved in the formation of red blood cells.

Planning experts advise those seeking to learn more about long-term care planning and get long-term care insurance cost contact a designated expert via the Association's Consumer Information Center at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/free-quote/. They point out that the best ages to look into this protection is prior to age 65 when health issues can make it harder or more costly to medically qualify for coverage.

Women Aged Over 85 Have Higher Prevalence Of Arthritis And Joint Pain

2011-09-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

A new study finds that the lifetime prevalence of arthritis is 65.4% in individuals aged 85, with women impacted more than men.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance, while arthritis is strongly connected with age, few investigations have studied how the oldest individuals (those aged 85+ years) are affected by the disease.

The study looked at over 1,000 individuals aged 85 years old and revealed that for any arthritis the lifetime prevalence was high, with 65.4% of the participants having arthritis. According to Slome, the researchers discovered that the disease was more common in women than men: 69.1% vs 58.8%.

Osteoarthritis the researchers found was most prevalent in the knee joint followed by the hip and hand. A percentage of those participating in the study identified the knee as the most painful joint, even though the foot, ankle and lower back received the highest pain score. With the exception of the shoulder and foot, for all joints women reported a higher average pain score.

The study was published today in the journal Age and Ageing. According to AALTCI, arthritis is the fourth leading cause of long term care insurance claims for nursing home care, following Alzheimer's, nervous system conditions and stroke.

"With more Americans living into their 80s and beyond, having a long term care plan in place is more important than ever," declares Slome. "Most people wait too long to consider their options because the right time to plan is prior to turning age 65."

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association's Consumer Information center that can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/.

Just 15 Minutes Of Exercise Increases Life Expectency By Three Years

2011-08-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

New research reports that just 15 minutes of daily physical activity can reduce your risk of death by 14 percent and increase your life expectancy by three years.

The current generally accepted recommendations call for adults to do at least 150 minutes, or a total of 2.5 hours, of physical activity weekly.

Researchers releasing the findings of their new study found that doing even less than that, only a quarter-hour of daily exercise or about 105 minutes a week still provides benefits.

The study included more than 390,000 residents of Taiwan. Researchers followed these individuals for an average of eight years and, based on self-reported amounts of weekly exercise, placed them into five categories.

People in the low-activity group, the scientists explained, exercised for an average of 92 minutes per week, or just under 15 minutes a day. Compared to those categorized as being in the inactive group, individuals who did almost no physical activity, those in the low-activity group were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause, 10 percent less likely to die of cancer, and had a three-year longer life expectancy, on average.

Every additional 15 minutes of daily exercise beyond the minimum 15 minutes further reduced the risk of all-cause death by 4 percent and the risk of cancer death by 1 percent.

"The research is welcome news for millions of Americans who would benefit from even a minimum amount of exercise," suggests Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org. "Death from heart disease, diabetes and cancer could be reduced and lifespans can be lengthened, though this means people will need to plan for living a long life."

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org is the national trade organization focused on educating individuals about the importance of long-term care planning. The Association's Consumer Information Center was voted the #1 source for information by consumer interest group rating and can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance.

Smoking And Weight Tied To Future Brain Shrinkage, Increased Long Term Care Insurance Need

2011-08-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

Smoking, having high blood pressure or diabetes and being overweight during your middle years may cause brain shrinkage and lead to cognitive problems up to a decade later.

According to a new study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology these factors appear to cause the brain to lose volume. Some 38.7 million Americans age 65 and older reported having one or more cognitive disorders according to the 2011 Long-Term Care Insurance Almanac published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

Health conditions increased the development of lesions secondary to presumed vascular injury, and also appeared to affect its ability to plan and make decisions as quickly as 10 years later. The findings provide evidence that identifying these risk factors early in people of middle age could be useful in screening people for at-risk dementia and encouraging people to make changes to their lifestyle before it's too late.

The study involved over 1,300 people without dementia with an average age of 54. Participants had body mass and waist circumference measures taken and were given blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes tests. They also underwent brain MRI scans over the span of a decade, the first starting about seven years after the initial risk factor exam. Participants with stroke and dementia at baseline were excluded, and between the first and last MRI exams, 19 people had a stroke and two developed dementia.

Researchers found that people with high blood pressure developed small areas of vascular brain damage, at a faster rate than those with normal blood pressure readings. They also had a more rapid worsening of scores on tests of executive function, or planning and decision making, corresponding to five and eight years of chronological aging respectively.

People with diabetes in middle age lost brain volume in the hippocampus at a faster rate than those without diabetes. Smokers lost brain volume overall at a faster rate than nonsmokers and were also more likely to have a rapid increase in white matter hyperintensities.

"Unhealthy habits come back to haunt millions at older ages," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the long term care insurance association. "It creates an increased risk of needing long term care in your 80s and 90s a reason why planning prior to retirement is a must especially for those still in good health."

Cancer Death Rate Declines Will Create Greater Long-Term Care Need

2011-06-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

A steady decline in overall cancer death rates among America's aging adult population will create added stress on the long-term care needs of seniors.

Medical advances and better lifestyles among the aging population appears to have saved 898,000 deaths from cancer between 1990 and 2007. According to the latest statistics presented today by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, this is both good and bad news for the primary targets of cancer - senior citizens.

"When you live a long life, the risk of needing costly long-term care services is great," explains Jesse Slome, AALTCI executive director. "When you live a longer life, the risk and cost will be even greater. More Americans will need home care and nursing home care services. Medicare which pays for cancer treatments for millions of seniors does not cover the long term health care costs associated with aging, or pays very little of them," Slome notes. "Millions of senior or aging baby boomers have no plan in place and will be quite surprised by the outcome."

Progress in the survival rate of those once impacted by cancer has not benefited all segments of the population equally. According to researchers, cancer death rates for individuals with the least education are more than twice those of the most educated.

Cancer death rates according to the American Cancer Society are still declining in the U.S., but some are declining faster than others -- and cancer remains the leading cause of death for Americans younger than 85.

In it's yearly report they estimated that 1,596,670 new cancer diagnoses and more than 570,000 cancer deaths are expected to occur this year.

Slome shared that death rates fell by about 22% for men and 14% for women between 1990 and 2007. Since the early 2000’s, the decline has been 1.9% a year in men and 1.5% each year in women. Better early detection and better treatment as well as reduced tobacco use over the past half-century that helped turned the tide in cancer-related deaths.

The long term care insurance Association recently reported that some 500,000 Americans would apply for insurance coverage this year. "That is certainly an indication that responsible people understand they need to have a plan in place," Slome adds. The Association will launch a monthlong effort to provide free long-term care insurance cost comparisons for consumers. Click here to request a free long term care insurance cost comparison or visit their website at http://www.aaltci.org/free-quote/.

Younger people are starting long term care insurance planning

2011-06-14T11:39:00.000-07:00

A year ago, the majority of individuals who contacted the Association looking for long term care insurance information were age 70 or older. In fact, we got our share of calls from 80 year olds frustrated that they couldn't find a long-term care insurance company willing to speak with them. Only a few will and most are understandably highly selective in terms of the risks they will be willing to accept.

Well, slowly I have been witnessing a change. We started seeing inquiries from more folks in their young 60s and more in their mid to late 50s. But all of a sudden (meaning the last two or three months) we are fielding calls and questions from consumers in their 40s and even a few in their late 30s.

This is a pretty seismic shift in the world of long term care insurance marketing and certainly will impact how a product is sold. After all, convincing someone in their late 50s and mid 60s that they need to plan for when they reach the age of 80 is reasonable to accomplish. For someone who is 40, that is literally an entire lifetime away.

First, what do I think is responsible for what's happening? To be honest, I hope it is a result of the year-after-year studies published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance that explained the percentage of applicants declined for health reasons and the importance of applying at younger ages when you can still qualify. It could be that agents have "picked off the low hanging fruit" in terms of marketing to 60 and 70 years olds. Or, it coule be that younger people are being solicited and a percentage are using Google to find expertise and validate the claims.

What we'll want to see if whether more younger people actually apply and buy. The year-to-year change in buying ages from 2009 to 2010 was statistically insignificant.

One of the more interesting observations that have caught my attention.

Every Long Term Care Insurance Fact And Figure

2011-06-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Not a single day goes by without my phone ringing or an email being received from an agent or broker with a question about a ststistic or fact.

And over the years, I have learned to do lots of digging to find those facts and figures that answer threse meaningful questions. Typically I put the print out from the various reports into a folder knowing that sooner or later I'd need to refer to the report again.

But no longer because we have just released the first Long-Term Care Insurance Almanac that contains all the facts and data one would ever want in one handy, dandy guide. It's the perfect piece to use yourself or to give to those pesky prospects who ask questions (it will also show them you are a knowledgeable professional ... because no one else will have shared this with them).

We've posted a PDF of the ALMANAC online for you to view. Go to http://www.aaltci.org/tools and then scroll down towards the bottom. You'll see the image next to the image of the LTC Insurance Sourcebook.

Nursing Home Closures Set Stafe For 2-Class System

2011-01-12T05:48:00.000-08:00

January 12, 2011. A five percent drop in available nursing home beds across the United States have affected many but worst hit are poor, urban neighborhoods.

According to new research, the country's minority population is aging at a steeper rate compared with the white population. The study conducted by the Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research at Brown University in Providence, R.I. found that the potential need for long-term care is rising fastest in minority communities, even as nursing home closings are happening more often in their areas.

"The impact of nursing home closings on minority and low-income communities will have all sorts of implications in terms of access and quality of care issues for all," states Jesse Slome, executuive director of the American Assopciation for Long-Term Care Insurance. "We are heading to a twp-class society, those who can pay and those dependent on whatever government programs exist."

The study findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, explored nursing home trends and analyzed information drawn from the National Online Survey Certification and Reporting database on closings of Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities between 1999 and 2008.

During that time, the research team found that 11 percent of stand-alone nursing homes (1,776) and almost half (1,126) of all hospital-based nursing homes in the country shut their doors. Together, they represented a loss of 16 percent of all Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes and nearly 97,000 -- or more than 5 percent -- of nursing home beds.

Using U.S. Census data from 2000, the authors further noted that overall closure rates were about twice as high in zip codes that are home to low-income and minority (black/Hispanic) communities than in the richest zip codes.

Nursing homes in zip codes comprised primarily of Hispanic or black residents were 37 and 38 percent more likely, respectively, to close than those in areas with the fewest Hispanics or blacks.

The team concluded that nursing homes in minority and low-income communities are bearing the lion's share of financial pressures and closures, which raises concerns about rapidly diminishing senior care options and the quality of the remaining facilities in those places.

Experts explain that people in low-income neighborhoods who use nursing homes are generally Medicaid recipients, whose reimbursement rates are lower than the fees of private-pay patients. The result is that those places that care for these patients are more likely to close.

More than 27 million Americans will need long-term care by 2050, nearly twice as many as in 2000. Either the federal government will have to increase the reimbursement rate for nursing home services, or state and federal policies will have to fund less expensive -- and perhaps more preferable lifestyle -- options, such as assisted living, the study researchers concluded. Otherwise, only the wealthy will have access to nursing homes, the authors said.

New Study Ties Diet To Longer Life

2010-12-27T18:58:00.000-08:00

According to medical researchers, today's leading causes of death have shifted from infectious diseases to chronic diseases. These include cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Both of these illnesses may be affected by diet a study published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reveals.

Researchers examined data regarding the associations of dietary patterns with mortality through analysis of the eating patterns of over 2500 adults between the ages of 70 and 79 over a ten-year period. They found that diets favoring certain foods were associated with reduced mortality.

By 2030, an estimated 973 million adults will be aged 65 or older worldwide according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. This study sought to determine the dietary patterns of a large and diverse group of older adults, and to explore connections between these dietary patterns with survival over a 10-year period.

Researchers were able to group the participants into six different clusters according to predominant food choices including healthy foods, high-fat dairy products, meat, fried foods, and alcohol and sweets and desserts.
The "Healthy foods" cluster was characterized by relatively higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish, and vegetables, and lower consumption of meat, fried foods, sweets, high-calorie drinks, and added fat. The "High fat dairy products" cluster had higher intake of foods such as ice cream, cheese, and 2% and whole milk and yogurt, and lower intake of poultry, low-fat dairy products, rice, and pasta.

The study was unique in that it evaluated participants' quality of life and nutritional status, through detailed biochemical measures, according to their dietary patterns.

After controlling for gender, age, race, clinical site, education, physical activity, smoking, and total calorie intake, the "High-fat dairy products" cluster had a 40% higher risk of mortality than the "Healthy foods" cluster. The "Sweets and desserts" cluster had a 37% higher risk. No significant differences in risk of mortality were seen between the "Healthy foods" cluster and the "Breakfast cereal" or "Refined grains" clusters.

Milk, Cheese, Dairy Products May Cut Diabetes Risk

2010-12-23T16:11:00.000-08:00

Harvard scientists have identified a natural substance in dairy fat that may substantially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

According to the researchers, the compound, trans-palmitoleic (TP) acid, is a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. It is not produced by the body and so only comes from the diet. Diabetes is an increasingly common condition that can result in disability for older individuals according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

A report in the Annals of Internal Medicine explains that TP acid may underlie epidemiological evidence in recent years that diets rich in dairy foods are linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic abnormalities. Health experts generally advise reducing full-fat dairy products, but TP acid is found in dairy fat.

The researchers examined nearly 4,000 participants and followed them for 20 years in an observational study to evaluate risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in older adults. Metabolic risk factors such as blood glucose and insulin levels, and also levels of circulating blood fatty acids, including trans-palmitoleic acid, were measured using stored blood samples in 1992, and participants were followed for development of type 2 diabetes.

At baseline, higher circulating levels of TP acid were associated with healthier levels of blood cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity, after adjustment for other risk factors.

During follow-up exams, individuals with higher circulating levels of trans-palmitoleic acid had a much lower risk of developing diabetes, with about a 60% lower risk among participants in the highest quintile (fifth) of TP acid levels, compared to individuals in the lowest quintile.

Support for the study was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Medicaid Must Change; Middle Class Most Impacted

2010-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

The following is from an excellent story in the New York Times (link below). The inability of taxpayer-paid programs (Medicaid specifically) to pay mounting bills for long-term care will mandate changes in the current system.
For that reason, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance urges education and advocates planning. If you are age 50-to-60, and middle class this is especially vital. If Medicaid (taxpayers) are strapped today ... you can only imagine what it will be in 20 or 30 years.
Here's the blurb from the NY Times and the link to the full article.

Last year, more than 1,200 people in New York City officially turned their backs on their husbands and wives to qualify for Medicaid, triple the number of people five years ago. The practice, known as “spousal refusal,” is becoming more common as the population ages and the cost of nursing care rises — and it is coming under increasing attack by government officials looking to curb ballooning Medicaid expenses.
In a recent report, Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch warned that spousal refusal could be abused as “an entitlement for the less needy” and urged state officials to rethink it, noting that long-term care accounts for nearly half the state’s Medicaid spending.

Lawyers for the elderly argue the tactic of spousal refusal is legal nationwide, and it is most commonly used in New York and Florida, where 136 people refused to support a sick spouse last year.

Without the option of spousal refusal, lawyers say, American health care is like a ghoulish lottery. Those who need doctors’ care for illnesses like cancer or heart disease are covered by Medicare, the insurance program for the elderly, while those who need more custodial care for Alzheimer’s or stroke must pay for it themselves or dispose of their assets to qualify for Medicaid.

The federal government allows a healthy spouse to keep a house, a car, up to about $2,700 a month in income and up to about $110,000 in other resources. Anything above that must be spent on nursing care before Medicaid kicks in.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/nyregion/12medicaid.html?_r=1

Read the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance's guide about reducing the cost of long-term care insurance. Click here. http://www.aaltci.org/free-guide.

Vision Of Elderly Can Improve

2010-11-27T18:04:00.001-08:00

Elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training.

According to a study from the University of California, Riverside and Boston University elderly adults can improve their vision with perceptual training. This has positive implications for the health and mobility of senior citizens.

UCR researchers and Boston University psychology professors conducted a series of experiments to determine whether repeated performance of certain visual tasks that are at the limits that one can see can improve the vision of adults older than 65.

The researchers found that with just two days of training, in one-hour sessions, with difficult stimuli resulted in older subjects seeing as well as younger college-age subjects. The improvement was maintained for up to three months and the results were dependent on the location in the visual field where the stimuli were located - suggesting that the brain changed in early levels of visual cortex.

Age-related changes in vision - such as contrast sensitivity, dark adaptation, visual acuity, spatial vision, orientation, depth perception and motion perception - have been substantiated in numerous previous studies. This is the first study that demonstrates that perceptual training can be used to improve vision among the elderly in the earliest levels of visual processing.

The researchers used a texture discrimination test in which the participants were presented with stimuli consisting of a letter embedded in the center of a field of horizontally oriented lines. In addition to the letter, an array of peripherally located lines was oriented diagonally and formed either a vertical or horizontal object, always presented in the same quadrant. That was followed quickly with the display of a masking pattern. The task was to identify the central letter and the peripheral object.

After age 60 there is a steady increase in the incidence of falls and automobile crashes that are associated with changes in visual processing reports the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance which tracks health related issues impacting aging Americans.

Free Guide Outlines Ways To Reduce Cost Of Long-Term Care Insurance

2010-11-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month and even the U.S. Congress has urged "the people of the United States to recognize (this) as an opportunity to learn more about the potential risks and costs … and the options available."

Some 10 million Americans currently require long-term care according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI) with annual expenditures exceeding $200 billion.

"We're proud to support this important educational campaign," says Lisa Wendt, president and CEO of LifeSecure Insurance Company. Experts expect the number of aging adults needing care will grow significantly in the next decade as the 76 million baby boomers begin to turn 65.

To inform individuals about the importance of long-term care planning and simple ways to make insurance protection more affordable, AALTCI is making available a free online informational consumer guide.

"Few people are aware of the available discounts and planning techniques that can make long-term care insurance quite affordable," explains Jesse Slome, the organization's executive director. "It is possible to reduce the cost by between 20-and-50 percent yearly."

For example, significant discounts are available when applicants meet certain health qualifications that can vary from one insurer to another. "Non-smokers may qualify for savings and couples or partners who apply for protection may be eligible for savings," Slome adds. "Savings can apply even when only one spouse obtains insurance coverage."

The "2 Minute Guide: Reducing The Cost" can be accessed online. No sign-in or personal information is required. To access the free guide, visit www.aaltci.org/free-guide/.

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About LifeSecure Insurance Company

LifeSecure Insurance Company is based in Brighton, MI and offers long-term care and post-hospital recovery insurance products. The company's insurance products are sold through a network of independent marketing organizations, brokers and agents and licensed in 44 states. Additional information is available at www.YourLifeSecure.com.

About The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI)

Established in 1998, AALTCI is the national professional organization serving over 3,000 insurance professionals who market long-term care insurance. The organization's online Consumer Information Center www.aaltci.org/ has been recognized as a leading resource of current information and relevant statistical data.

Discovery Could Treat Obesity-Related Diabetes And Heart Disease

2010-11-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

Researchers have found a new cellular pathway that could help in developing therapeutic treatments for obesity-related disorders, like diabetes and heart disease.

The medical scientists found that action by the enzyme histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) could be targets for potential treatment options in obesity-related diseases.

Researchers were really interested in the tie between increased HDAC9 levels in fat tissue of mice and the caloric overload. Fat tissues from these obese mice showed dysfunction, with increased expression of pro-inflammatory agents and decreased expression of hormones responsible for maintaining whole body lipid and glucose stability.

HDAC9 level in fat cells is the underlying molecular culprit for dysfunctional fat tissue during obesity.

The researchers are currently examining HDAC9 knockout mice subjected to chronic high-fat feeding and think that HDAC9 gene removal will protect mice from obesity-linked adipose tissue dysfunction and associated metabolic disorders.

The team is pursuing studies to understand how diet regulates HDAC9 levels in fat tissue and how HDAC9 up-regulation can be prevented during diet-induced obesity through pharmacological means. Their findings may help lead researchers to targeted therapies that may prevent the development of obesity-related disorders in humans reports the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance which tracks scientific research impacting the long-term health of Americans.

Nursing Home Industry Fear Republican Medicaid Cuts

2010-11-15T18:09:00.000-08:00

The nursing home industry is concerned about pending Medicaid cuts following the Congressional changeover.

A Republican-controlled House is unlikely to extend the enhanced Medicaid funding for states in last year's Recovery Act, the head of a nursing home trade association said Monday.

A return to the initial federal share would be particularly painful for nursing homes and assisted living facilities, who rely on Medicaid to pay about two-thirds of their patients' bills. "Everybody wants the government to pay without raising taxes and that's not possible," explains Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. "As people understand Medicaid doesn't pay or forces you to into unacceptable situations, more will see the value in private insurance."

At a roundtable discussion in Washington, Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, said the situation will force a discussion on long-term care, which he said was hardly addressed during the healthcare reform debate.

As lawmakers respond to voters' concerns about the deficit and cut back on Medicaid and Medicare, a long-term care sector that relies on government spending to cover about 85 percent of its patients faces a crossroads.

Looking ahead, I have to say I am concerned about the significant wrangling we already see developing between the state and federal governments in regard to Medicaid and the federal healthcare reform law, Yarwood stated.

Scientists Find Speak Two Languages To Delay Alzheimer's Onset

2010-11-08T17:27:00.000-08:00

Speaking two languages can help delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by as much as five years.

The study conducted by Canadian scientists found more dramatic evidence that those who have spoken two or more languages consistently over many years experienced a delay in the onset of their symptoms by as much as five years.

"We are not claiming that bilingualism in any way prevents Alzheimer's or other dementias, but it may contribute to cognitive reserve in the brain which appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms for quite some time," said Dr. Craik, lead investigator and co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Memory.

The brains of people who speak two languages still show deterioration from Alzheimer's pathology; however, their special ability with two languages seems to equip them with compensatory skills to hold back the tell-tale symptoms of Alzheimer's, such as memory loss, confusion, and difficulties with problem-solving and planning.

Observations were made on patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's from 2007 to 2009. The patients' date of diagnosis and age of onset of cognitive impairment were recorded along with information on occupational history, education and language history (i.e. fluency in English and any other languages).

The researchers found that bilingual patients had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's 4.3 years later and had reported the onset of symptoms five years later than the monolingual patients. The groups were equivalent on measures of cognitive and occupational level, there was no apparent effect of immigration status, and there were no gender differences.

According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the current study adds to mounting scientific evidence that lifestyle factors - such as regular cardiovascular exercise, a healthy diet, and speaking more than one language - can play a central role in how the brain copes with age-related cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer's.

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Alzheimer's Society of Canada.