Tennessee joins 24 other states in being part of the solution, not theproblem, in helping baby boomers solve their long-term care financing needs.These special policies allow policyholders to protect one dollar of assets forevery dollar of benefits received under the policy as payment for long-termcare services at time of application for Medicaid eligibility. The Partnershiphas been operating in four states (Connecticut, New York, Indiana andCalifornia) since 1992 and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 expanded theopportunity to other states. In the original states, only about 250policyholders have had to turn to Medicaid for help after receiving benefitsfrom their long-term care insurance policy first, so the Partnership is aphenomenal success.

What are long-term care services? Long-term care is the care needed forhelp with basic activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and movingfrom one place to another. Long-term care insurance policies pay when help isneeded with at least two of these basic functions for at least 90 days or whensomeone has a severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's. Injuries fromaccidents (auto, water or snow skiing, horseback riding, construction, etc.)or health conditions like brain tumors, Lou Gehrig's disease or strokes) cancause people to need this kind of help.

A common misconception is that this care is only needed by older peopleand that care is mostly delivered in nursing homes. It's just the opposite.Over 40% of extended care is needed by people under age 65 and less than 15%of care is provided in nursing homes. Some care is provided in assistedliving facilities and adult day care, but most care is provided at home byfamilies at a tremendous sacrifice. Long-term care insurance provides money tohelp families take better care of their loved ones by hiring caregivers tohelp with home care.

Tennessee insurance agents already licensed to sell health insurance by7/1/08 must complete at least 8 hours of initial training to sell Partnershippolicies by 7/1/09 and at least four hours of ongoing training every 24months. (Agents licensed after 7/1/08 must complete the initial 8 hour coursebefore selling long-term care insurance.)

This required training is available at www.LTCiTraining.com. The coursewas developed by national long-term care insurance trainers Phyllis Sheltonand Phil Sullivan, which together have trained over 85,000 insuranceprofessionals. Phyllis Shelton is a native Tennessean whose company, LTCConsultants, has worked with 10 of the top long-term care insurance carriersin the nation. "We only have a short window to be sure most of the babyboomers don't wind up on the Medicaid system for long-term care as this wouldcause unprecedented taxation in our country," said Shelton. "I believe thatPartnership policies have tremendous potential as the private sector'ssolution to the real health care crisis in America which is long-term care.Our course goes above and beyond to offer 12 CE credits, not 8. Moreimportantly, it teaches producers what they need to know to sell long-termcare insurance to families ethically and professionally."

For more information please contact Bill Pomakoy at bill@ltcitraining.com,866-400-5224.

SOURCE LTC Consultants