Assocviation Launches Medicare Information Center

 

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. 

New Short-Term Care Insurance Website Launched

I am so pleased to announce the launching of the new website created for the National Advisory Center for Short-Term Care Information.  Our goal is simple, to put short-term care insurance on the map in the U.S. so that more consumers are aware of this product as a very viable alternative for those seeking to do some long-term care planning.

The new website  will contain important information for consumers including a free short-term care insurance quote form.  Phase one of the website is completed.  Phase two will be a comprehensive Agent Center.  This will provide what agents need to successfully market and sell short-term care insurance policies to their clients and prospects.

We cordially invite you to visit the website now.

Hybrid Long Term Care Insurance Companies To Debate At Association Summit

Long term care insurance hybrid product info at www.aaltci.org

Executives from four leading companies offering hybrid life insurance policies offering long term care insurance benefits will debate the merits of their company's specific offering at the nation's largest gathering of insurance sales professionals focused on this field.

"Sales of life insurance policies which pay a long term care benefit are increasing but insurance professionals are confused as to the pros and cons of each particular product," declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  A 90-minute debate featuring four of the nation's leading companies offering these products will be featured at upcoming National Long Term Care Insurance Summit.  The conference is the premier industry gathering and takes place November 10-12, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Slome, the four companies represented will be Lincoln Financial Group, OneAmerica, Genworth Financial and Security Mutual Life which markets a rider to their life policies.  "A number of new insurers are starting to offer life insurance products offering accelerated long term care benefits such as Pacific Life," according to Slome.  "We believe when insurance professionals can stack up the respective pros and cons of each product they will be better able to educate their clients and help them make better decisions."

Over 550 insurance professionals, members of the trade group are registered to attend the event which features some 30 different sessions as well as keynote addresses from Knight Kiplinger, editor in chief of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and Jesse Slome who will discuss a 'new and improved" long term care insurance plan of protection.

To learn more about the 2012 long term care insurance sales conference call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.

Long Term Care Insurance Increased Tax Deduction Limits Announced

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced increased deductibility levels for individuals purchasing long term care insurance policies purchased in 2013.  
     

"For taxable years beginning in 2013, the limitations have been increased," explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), the industry's trade association.  “Tax advantaged long term care insurance remains one of the few remaining significant tax-savings benefits especially meaningful for small business owners."

The deductible limits under Section 213(d)(10) for eligible long-term care premiums includable in the term ‘medical care’ are based on the taxpayers attained age before the close of the taxable year.  For those age 40 or less, the maximum deduction is $360 an increase from the 2012 amount ($350).  The maximum amount that may be deducted by an individual who is more than age 70 is $4,550, an increase from $4,370 in the prior year.

"The federal government and a growing number of states are offering deductions and in some cases even credits to encourage individuals to plan for the eventual need of costly long-term care," Slome explains.

According to the just released IRS Revenue Procedure 2012, the deductible limits range from a low of $360 to as much as $4,550 per individual.  "The deductions are especially meaningful at older ages when it is likely a couple will have lower income and potentially other medical expenses necessary to meet minimum thresholds," Slome explains.  "That said, people must buy long-term care insurance when they can still health qualify.  Tax deductions are a meaningful added plus to the potential of not having to depend on family members or spend your retirement income for care."

     
For calendar year 2013, the per-diem limitation under Section 7702B(d)(4) for periodic payments received under a qualified long-term care insurance contract is $320 (the 2012 limit was $310).
     

Established in 1998, the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance is the national association focused on creating heighten consumer awareness regarding the importance of planning and serving insurance and financial professionals who provide long-term care financing solutions.  A complete explanation of long term care insurance tax deduction limits and rules for individuals and business owners can be found on the Association's website.

Long Term Care Insurance Association Kicks Off Membership Campaign

A national drive to educate thousands of insurance professionals about the importance of long term care insurance planning for their clients along with a membership drive will be launched.

“America faces a long term care tsunami as millions of people live into their 80s, 90s and even past 100 and very few have done any planning," declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.  The trade group, founded in 1998, is the leading organization supporting insurance professionals who market long term care insurance solutions.

"The past few years have witnessed many significant changes in the long term care planning landscape and our goal is to help bring people up-to-date with what's taking place and what they need to do to build more successful practices," Slome explains.

The national association will be conducting extensive producer education throughout the month of November including the holding of the national Long Term Care Insurance Producers Summit in Las Vegas.  "The Summit is the industry's largest national long term care insurance conference exclusively for insurance agents who market and sell solutions with over 500 attendees," Slome notes.

The Association will conduct a national membership drive as well.  "We provide exclusive benefits for members designed to help them generate more prospects and sales," Slome notes.  The Association maintains the nation's largest Long Term Care Insurance Online Learning Marketing Sales Center consisting of nearly 1090 training audios, marketing material that can be personalized and used by agents to get more long term care insurance leads and sales.  Membership in the organization is $98 per-year.

Established in 1998 as a non-profit trade group, the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance advocates for the importance of planning for long term care and supports insurance and financial professionals who market LTC insurance.  To learn more about long term care insurance costs call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.

Long Term Care Insurance Rates Account For 2013 Change

The impact of the changing reserve requirements for long term care insurance has generally already been taken into account and isn’t expected to create further rate increases starting next year according to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

“We’ve had several recent calls from consumers after being told by a financial planner that rates for insurance would ‘increase significantly’ in 2013,” Slome explains.  “The new discount rate will have minimal impact on long term care insurance and in many cases has already been taken into account by insurers.”

According to Slome, the ‘valuation discount rate’ used for calculating statutory reserves or capital requirements for long term care insurance is dropping from 4 percent to 3.5 percent for new business starting in 2013.  “The rate is tied to Treasury yields based on a complicated formula,” Slome notes.  “It automatically updates when new money rates change over a period of time.”

Five-year Treasury rates are at historic lows (0.62%) and 10-year yields are at 1.59 percent as of September 4, 2012.  “By comparison, both five and 10-year rates were 4.68 percent on January 1, 2007 and 2.65 percent and 4.60 percent as recently as January 4, 2010.

“Low interest rates have been the primary cause of increasing rates for long term care insurance and have impacted other insurance lines including fixed annuities as well as life and disability insurance,” Slome states.  “To compensate for every one percent decline in interest rates which equates to lower investment income, an insurer needs a 10-to-15 percent increase in premiums.   The drop in just the past two years has had an enormous impact.”

The Association reports that the changing reserve requirements that take effect January 1^st are designed to provide added protection to policyholders.  “The half percent drop in reserve rates will have a nominal impact on premiums,” Slome.  “The impact depends on a policy’s duration but is in the two-to-five percent range.”

The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance was established in 1998 to advocate for the importance of planning for long term care and to support insurance and financial professionals who market LTC insurance.  To learn more about long term care insurancecosts call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.

New Report Lauded By Long Term Care Insurance Industry Executive

The executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance cited a new report that called further attention to the sever economic strain America’s aging population will place on federal programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

According to the report by the National Research Council and funded by the U.S. Treasury, there are options that can help the nation avoid what others call a very grim reality.  “As a nation we need to act sooner rather than kicking the can further down the road,” declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the nation’s long term care insurance industry trade group.  “Waiting will only make the matter worse and the cure that much more severe, and yet we seem to be willing to bury our heads and avoid what expert after expert predicts.”

The report notes that the aging of the American population will pose continuing economic challenges for the country for decades to come.  According to the report, the ratio of adults aged 65 and over compared with people aged 20 to 64 will increase by 80 percent in the coming decades.

Experts explain that the shift is partly the result of increases in average life expectancy which has risen from 47 years in 1900 to 78 years today.  According to Slome, life expectancy continues to grow and is projected to be 84.5 years by the year 2050.

“America is rapidly becoming an aged nation without a plan for dealing with the needs of our people and their families,” Slome concurs.  “Declining birth rates among younger people means a smaller proportion of the population will be under 65.”

The report mandated by Congress notes that while some people have saved amply for retirement, between one-fifth and two-thirds of today's seniors have not saved enough, leaving them to rely heavily on Medicare and Social Security -- programs that, along with Medicaid, now account for about 40 percent of all federal spending.

Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for roughly 40 percent of all federal spending and 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product according to the authors of the report.   The report outlines strategies including increasing the retirement age beyond the currently accepted age of 65 years.   A second strategy called for workers to increase their savings in order to have more resources when they retire.

“We’ve called on both Presidential candidates to address the long term care problem facing aging Americans,” Slome notes.  “We believe tax incentives are a way to get more people to pay attention and to plan.  We praise the authors of this report and Congress for requesting the study but it’s time to take action, talking will not fix this problem.”

The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance was established in 1998 to advocate for the importance of planning for long term care and to support insurance and financial professionals who market solutions. To learn more about long term care insurance costs call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.