Just got this in the mail - big bold header visible in the clear "window"
The Government has Addressed the issue of Long Term Care!
I've been following this Health Care Reform issue pretty closely, so I'm really interested in what they are offering me for long term care (although I'm surprised to learn about it first via a bulk mail piece, rather than right here on DKos) That exclamation point says some really important information is in the envelope.
Let's open it together, and see what it says.
Mmmhmmmm. AARP study, average cost of nursing home care more than $77,0000 per year, exceeds $120,000 some places. Insurance and Medicare cover less than 3%
The government has made it clear that senior healthcare programs will not expand to provide long term care. In fact, benefits for seniors have been further limited by the Balance [sic] Budget Act (PL105-33). However, we were not left hopeless. New [sic] signed legistlation, HR 3103, provides tax advantages for seniors purchasing long term care protection. The message is very clear. You must provide for your own long term care!
New health care legislation signed, and I didn't know about it?? Oh, wait, HR 3103 is the HIPAA Act. Signed in .....1996???. But, yes, it does provide some tax benefit to purchasing long term care insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance.
Minimum federal consumer protection and marketing requirements are established for tax-qualified long-term care insurance policies, including a requirement that insurers start benefit payments when a policy-holder cannot perform at least two "activities of daily living" (i.e., bathing, eating, toileting, transferring, dressing, and incontinence). Subject to certain limitations, clarifies that long-term care insurance premium payments and unreimbursed long-term care services costs are tax deductible as a medical expense, and benefits received under a long-term care insurance contract are excludable from taxable income. Employer sponsored long-term care insurance is to receive the same tax treatment as health insurance.
http://www.netreach.net/...
Oh, well. Procrastinator is my middle name, so it's no surprise this great opportunity, available since 1996, has slipped by me. So what should I do now?
Return this card today to receive your FREE "Shoppers Guide"
Gee, thanks guys! Glad you are looking out for me. (Who are you again?) Oh, you are the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and you are operating in conjunction with Center for Insurance Policy and Research
The mission for the CIPR is to serve federal and state lawmakers, federal and state regulatory agencies, international regulatory agencies, and insurance consumers, by enhancing intergovernmental cooperation and awareness, improving consumer protection and promoting legitimate marketplace competition.
In 2009, the NAIC establish [sic] the Center for Insurance Policy and Research (CIPR) within its D.C. Executive Office to leverage the resources of several NAIC departments and academicians to support the collection of information and analysis for use by state and federal officials, agencies, and policymakers. The CIPR coordinates the collection and dissemination of insurance data, and research for the purpose of enhancing:
Regulatory cooperation between federal, state and international agencies and functional regulators,
Comprehension of insurance-related topics and issues by federal policy makers and others,
Insurance information exchange between the states and the federal government and
NAIC and state regulator participation in public policy discussions and decisions affecting insurance and the broader financial services sector.
My, my. How impressive, that you high level folks are working so hard with government to assure that my interests are being represented. Obviously, I would be stupid not to follow up with the directions
To receive prompt information from Cxxx Fxxxx licensed by the State of Xxxxx to sell long term care insurance, fill out this card in its entirety and mail in the enclosed envelope TODAY
YES! I'd like more information about long term care insurance. Please provide me my FREE copy of the Shopper's Guide
I'm gonna be doing just that shortly - after I give the deposed Nigerian prince my bank account number, order up those pills that will make it as hard as a rock and as long as a pool cue (although being a female I'm not sure what "it" is that will be strengthened and lengthened), and I need to order up some berry juice so I can get rich running my own business from home. But as soon as I get all that done, I'm absolutely going to send in my request for more information about buying your long term care insurance.