Description: A comment letter to policymakers produced jointly by the SOA and AAA presents findings from their actuarial analysis of the proposed CLASS Act. The analysis indicates that the proposed structure and funding approaches will be unsustainable, and will cover only a very small proportion of the intended population. The opt-out and guaranteed issue provisions of the plan pose a risk that soon the program will either need increased premiums and/or significant reductions.

Description: The abstract for the paper Aging of the Elderly: Can an intragenerational Funding Approach Help Society with Improved Longevity?

Description: This issue wraps up the publication of essays to explore solutions available to address risks in retirement and focus on risks in a DC environment.

Description: Recently, the SCAN Foundation, AARP, LeadingAge, and HHS funded economic modeling conducted by Milliman and the Urban Institute around LTC reform elements. The LTC industry has over the years also generated ideas to address the on-coming expansion of LTC needs in the U.S. For this article, we have brought together three individuals who have long involvement with LTC financing to discuss some of the recent ideas and provide some perspectives on their pluses and minuses.

Description: The National Academy of Social Insurance (the Academy) recently released a comprehensive study on models for states interested in pursuing social insurance initiatives for LTSS, paid leave and child care reform. The report explores strategies that states could pursue to better support families in meeting evolving care needs over the lifespan. Actuarial projections for illustrative policy options are included. The presenters will report back the Academy study panel's findings, provide in-depth insights into Washington State's new long-term care social insurance program, and briefly report on other state activity in the LTSS and paid leave domains.

Description: Presented at the Living to 100 Symposium, January 2011. The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports 'CLASS' Act’s designers and promoters envision the program as a noble plan to relieve the financial strain on Medicaid long-term care and enable disabled and elderly Americans to purchase more home care and suffer less nursing home institutionalization. This paper explains why CLASS, like private long-term care insurance, is doomed to failure unless and until the crowd-out effect of easy access to Medicaid LTC benefits is addressed.

Description: Coverage of Medicaid home and community-based services under the 1915(i) state plan option: Attractive features and important considerations

Description: This paper proposes, for long-term care, a new funding model in which social insurance and private insurance will pay for the bulk of the costs, supplemented by personal payment. If these sources fail, public welfare will serve as a safety net.

Description: Chairperson's corner article communicating the accomplishments and next steps for the LTC Section Council.

Description: The LTC industry is changing. This change will create opportunities. The LTC Section is well positioned to educate individuals on how to affect this change. Several projects are currently in the works, including Land This Plane, the NAIC LTC model regulation, and the National Conversation on LTC Financing.