Seniors Lack Understanding of Long-Term Care

June 26, 2001--There's a good chance seniors don't understand that Medicare or their Medicare Supplement Insurance won't help them pay for their quickly approaching long-term care needs, according to a new national study. This on-going lack of knowledge is a looming liability for Americans that has created a crisis for the entire country.

``Along with HCFA and AARP, we've watched and studied this crisis as it's been developing,'' said Robert Pearson LTCGS, CEO of CareQuest®, Inc., National Work & Family LTC Solutions. ``Our recent study shows that our most vulnerable citizens age 65 and over, still have very limited knowledge about Medicare coverage of long-term care, nursing home care and home health care. This is of particular concern because these are the very citizens most likely to require these services in the very near future. Something's ticking...and it's growing louder everyday.''

The new CareQuest study, first in a series of three, revealed that nearly two-thirds of people who are 65 and older either do not know, or have incorrect information about Medicare coverage for long-term care. The CareQuest study was conducted by Wegge Strategic Research under the direction of Dr. David G. Wegge. His work has been used by The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, London Financial Times, New York Times, MacNeil Lehrer News Hour, Newsweek, USA Today, CBS News, ABC News and CNN.

``Our most vulnerable citizens think Medicare will cover their long term care costs,'' said Pearson. ``That's also the group that's uncertain if Medicare will cover medical needs. Our parents are at an age when they need to plan for long-term care and investigate long-term care insurance, now.''

CareQuest has been studying, developing and testing programs that assist and educate the elderly and their children about long-term care and long-term care financing for over 12 years. The result is the development of a proven solution for long-term care planning, education and financing. The company is committed to bringing these important crisis solutions to the attention of Congressional leaders.

``It was Senator Claude Pepper and his passionate pleas to the insurance industry in 1977 that initiated the development of better and more comprehensive Medicare Supplement plans to protect seniors against the high cost and long stays of hospitalization.

It was also the government that recommended the purchase of a good Medicare Supplement insurance plan - and it worked!`` Pearson said. ''Today, with the long-term care crisis settling in upon us, and 78 million baby boomers moving up the age ranks, we need a Senator Pepper to step forward and tell American citizens that they need to start planning now financially and realize that averting this crisis is a personal responsibility.`` The depth of our liability is much greater with the long-term care crisis, but the cost of education is nominal compared to the return. ''We need to step up for the Greatest Generation.... after all, it's absolutely in the Boomers' best interest!``

Frustrated with the lack of effective solutions and misinformation, Pearson started lobbying Congress in 1999 with a White Paper titled, ``First Things First with Long-Term Care.'' More than 70% of the offices in Congress, employer groups, insurance companies, associations, media and special interest groups received this report that helped sparked important changes.

Pearson will soon release his second White Paper, 2001 Report to Congress ``The Long-Term Care Multigenerational Solution,'' introducing Congress and top government agencies to their tested solutions. The report details a national plan to start the solution process and turn the tide towards care planning and personal responsibility, Pearson hopes to spur government, business and consumers to action.

``This is a multigenerational crisis,'' he said. ``It affects the elderly, their children, grandchildren - and their collective estates. If we can garner the cooperation of HCFA, Social Security Administration, state governments and the media, we can confidently move forward with an aggressive, innovative program so taxpayers won't have to carry the full burden of this growing issue. But we have to act soon...nobody's getting any younger.''

For a copy of CareQuest's latest study, ``Perception of Medicare Long-Term Care Coverage Among Those Age 65 and Over in the United States,'' please call 800-327-7138, email: info@Bridge-Link.com or write: Report, CareQuest National Work & Family LTC Solutions, 583 D'Onofrio Drive, 103, Madison, Wisconsin 53719.

Employers, Associations and Benefit Consultants who wish to investigate long-term care workplace solutions please call 800-327-7138, or email: info@Bridge-Link.com and request a workplace LTC solution packet.