Back to the RadioSpace™ home page
NewsDirect story topics:
Consumer, Business & General Interest
Current Events & Public Affairs
Entertainment & Sports
Health & Medicine
Proposed Legislation Concerning Long-Term-Care Insurance May Cause Problems for Consumers
Fully produced report in MP3 format:
48 kbps |
96 kbps
(71 seconds)
-- How Will You Use This Story? --
(OPEN):
CONGRESS IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT
ALL AMERICANS HAVE LONG-TERM-CARE INSURANCE. BUT, WHILE THE
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS SUPPORTS THE LEGISLATION'S
GOAL, IT'S CONCERNED THAT THE BILL MAY CAUSE REAL PROBLEMS FOR
CONSUMERS. A-C-L-I PRESIDENT AND C-E-O, FRANK
KEATING, EXPLAINS...
(KEATING):
"THE GOAL OF THE 'CLASS ACT' IS WORTHY:
TAXPAYERS COULD PARTICIPATE IN A FEDERAL PROGRAM WHERE THEY'D BE PAYING
REGULAR PREMIUMS, AND RECEIVING BENEFITS IN THE FUTURE. HOWEVER,
PREMIUMS WOULD INCREASE ANNUALLY--AND BENEFIT LEVELS COULD FLUCTUATE.
IN FACT, UNDER ONE PROPOSAL, THE 50-DOLLAR BENEFIT WOULD CLEARLY BE
INADEQUATE--PROVIDING, AT MOST, ONLY 12-PERCENT OF A PERSON'S POTENTIAL
AROUND-THE-CLOCK, HOME-CARE NEEDS. AND, THERE'S NO TELLING HOW
MUCH THIS PROGRAM WOULD ACTUALLY COST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE BETTER SOLUTIONS: CONGRESS COULD PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR
THE PURCHASE OF LONG-TERM-CARE INSURANCE, THROUGH THE WORKPLACE.
AND, LONG-TERM-CARE PARTNERSHIPS CAN BE EXPANDED, TO MORE STATES.
THROUGH THESE OPTIONS, THE BURDEN ON GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS CAN BE
REDUCED--AND MORE AMERICANS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COVERAGE THAT
TRULY AND EFFICIENTLY MEETS THEIR LONG-TERM-CARE NEEDS."
(CLOSE):
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT
"A-C-L-I"-DOT-COM.
