At what age should consumers purchase long-term care insurance?

Among individuals younger than the age of 50, it is quite common to believe that long-term care insurance is something that they won’t really need until later on in their lives. According to CFP Rich Arzaga, CEO and founder of San Ramon, California-based Cornerstone Wealth Management, the majority of consumers won’t start to inquire about long-term care insurance until about the age of 45. In fact, “it won’t be on their radar”. He said that once they reach the age of 55 or 60, they will begin to talk about…

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Long-Term health care plan axed by the Department of Health and Human Services

Last week, the Obama administration announced that it will be cancelling the long-term care insurance program that would have been created from the Affordable Care Act. The program, known as Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS), would have brought aid to those suffering from chronic illness and disability, was determined to be a detriment to the overall economic health of the nation, leading Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, to discontinue the program. Opponents of the Affordable Care Act claim this as a major…

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Department of Health and Human Services casts a wary eye at CLASS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently reviewing a new report concerning the longevity of the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) program. The long-term care program has generated controversy lately after the resignation of the program’s administrator and staff. As of now, the program will not receive any federal money in 2012. CLASS is designed to provide insurance coverage for those needing long-term care. The future of the program is currently in jeopardy but the HHS is not inclined to solve any of its problems…

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Most Asset Based Long-Term Care Purchases Are Over Age 65 – Two Thirds Of New Single-Pay Life+LTC Policy Sales Are Over $100,000

The sale of asset-based long-term care insurance protection grew significantly according to research by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (www.aaltci.org) the national trade organization. According to data gathered from the industry’s leading insurers, premium in 2010 increased 79 percent compared to the prior year. The number of covered lives increased 83 percent. “Asset based or linked products are experiencing growth as they are highly suitable for a very specific consumer,” states Jesse Slome, AALTCI’s executive director. “Financial planners and investment professionals who may not like the more complex…

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U.S. federal research looks into increases in premiums for long-term care

The results of a federal government study have been released in a report that examined the impact of increasing premiums for insurance policies covering long-term care. The report was created by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and looked into the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), which is the country’s biggest private insurance program for long-term care. Executive director Jesse Slome, of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance explained that since the FLTCIP is a voluntary plan with regular employees, the group is representative of long-term care insurance…

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