Description: Stakeholders in a specific state (Minnesota) were interviewed about the potential value -- and obstacles -- of a catastrophic backstop program to handle long term care (LTC) financing needs. The design would entail a payroll deduction which would produce a fund to pay LTC expenses once a deductible period (of 1 to 4 years, depending on income) was reached. This design was believed to encourage enrollees to cover the front end better than done today, whether by private insurance or other means.

Description: The risk/delivery/protection framework was first presented to participants in the SOA's Long-Term Care Think Tank seminar in a survey. That survey was designed to get participant opinions on how the system might evolve over the next five to 10 years. The results of the survey are summarized in the article.

Description: The author discusses the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 GINA and its ultimate effect on the long-term care industry in general, and on current and future insureds, specifically.

Description: Views on how to manage a block of long-term care insurance which has been placed in runoff, from a strategic, operational and financial perspective

Description: This article discusses the “Future of Long Term Care” Think Tank.

Description: A discussion about the future of long-term care insurance, potential growth of sales, and career influences.

Description: Discussion of the need for long term care reinsurance and the types of services needed and available.

Description: Description * Coinsurance has not been widely offered as a benefit reduction option to offset long-term care premium rate increases. This article uses an illustrative example to evaluate the potential impact coinsurance could have on an insurance carrier's future claim liabilities and a policyholder's premium rates. It also explores various considerations insurance carriers, regulators, and policyholders should think about when evaluating whether coinsurance is the right option.

Description: The barrier between humans and machines continues to blur, but curiously, this may have been prediction thousands of years ago in ancient myths. This article looks to how some of the early legends are becoming manifest in modern technology, particularly in the area of elder care. From automation, to humanoid assistants, to mind clones will the age of technology bring a new utopia?

Description: The LTC insurance sector faces a crisis of credibility due to recent company failures. Market evidence indicates reduced confidence in the reserve sufficiency of companies with large legacy LTC exposures. Disclosures show the persistence of problematic actuarial and investment return assumptions. Institutional backstops exist but vary by jurisdiction and have elements which can exacerbate rather than ameliorate problems. Fortunately, LTC liabilities accrue over long time periods. An industry supported incentive structure can be conceived that would establish stronger standards and encourage greater reserving in exchange for a more reliable and rational backstop.