HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging
Summary 93 In summary, we believe that the private market has functioned well in providing acute health care protection against major financial loss for the majority of Medicare beneficiaries. We recognize that there are beneficiaries, however, who cannot afford private protection. We urge that any new program focus on that segment of the beneficiary population not adequately protected by current programs. Regarding long term care, we also believe private insurance can play an important role. However, governmental activities appear necessary to educate the elderly about the need for protection, and to provide incentives for purchase of long term care insurance. Protecting the elderly from catastrophic expenses can best be done through a combination of public and private sector initiatives, and we look forward to working with you as you pursue this important topic. (533:1/21/87) 72-699 0 - 87 -- 4 10
94 Item 3 Testi~ony of GAIL SHEARER MANAGER, POLICY ANALYSIS CONSUMERS UNION before the SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING UNITED STATES SENATE hearings on CATASTROPHIC HEALTH INSURANCE January 26, 1987
- Page 45 and 46: 42 industry's role in providing cat
- Page 47 and 48: 44 Senator HEINZ. So things are wor
- Page 49 and 50: 46 Chairman MELCHER. In exactly the
- Page 51 and 52: 48 plement policy, what should that
- Page 53 and 54: 50 - 2 - I am Robert Shapland, Vice
- Page 55 and 56: 52 - 4 - CATASTRIPC PROTECTION IiDE
- Page 57 and 58: 54 -6- MiCIGAP INSJRANCE: A RPL1C/P
- Page 59 and 60: 56 To ensure that all of these cont
- Page 61 and 62: 58 - 10 - The HJAA also endorses Me
- Page 63 and 64: 60 - 12 - Finally, given that Congr
- Page 65 and 66: 62 - 14 - A recent HLAA survey of o
- Page 67 and 68: 64 Chairman MELCHER. Senator Heinz.
- Page 69 and 70: 66 Mr. SHAPLAND. I think we are in
- Page 71 and 72: 68 Those problems are real problems
- Page 73 and 74: 70 Mr. SHAPLAND. Oh, no. There are
- Page 75 and 76: 72 comprehension, and it is growing
- Page 77 and 78: 74 that educational process, and we
- Page 79 and 80: 76 So we have supported and activel
- Page 81 and 82: 78 Mr. SHIAPLAND. How much would nu
- Page 83 and 84: 80 rently being offered by the indu
- Page 85 and 86: 82 Recently, Karri Lynn has started
- Page 87 and 88: 84 Mr. Chairman and Members of the
- Page 89 and 90: 86 standards for voluntary certific
- Page 91 and 92: 88 non-group subscribers of reporti
- Page 93 and 94: 90 We believe a new federal program
- Page 95: 92 However, public awareness is nee
- Page 99 and 100: 96 to Secretary Bowen's proposals c
- Page 101 and 102: 98 -4- most-states do not monitor t
- Page 103 and 104: 100 Catastrophic Protection within
- Page 105 and 106: 102 - a - participants and in part
- Page 107 and 108: 104 - 2-- Consumers Union suV orts
- Page 109 and 110: 106 29), but fails to acknowledge t
- Page 111 and 112: 108 explore all alternatives to lon
- Page 113 and 114: 110 adds to the complexity of Medic
- Page 115 and 116: 112 - 10- Consider first the propos
- Page 117 and 118: 114 - 12- insurance premiums and me
- Page 119 and 120: Consunmer Unon Pubtishcr of Consume
- Page 121 and 122: FOR RELEASE AT 9:00 P.M. H2ST) TUES
- Page 123 and 124: 120 Itema I CENTER FOR MEDICARE ALw
- Page 125 and 126: Page 3 122 aide services, however,
- Page 127 and 128: Page 5 state treasuries." 124 Judge
- Page 129 and 130: 126 462 6485 New Developments 10,05
- Page 131 and 132: 128 462 6-85 New Developments 10,05
- Page 133 and 134: 130 462 6-85 New Developments 10,05
- Page 135 and 136: 132 10,930 New Developments tI.PZ ;
- Page 137 and 138: 10,932 134 New Davelopments 492 346
- Page 139 and 140: 136 10,934 New Developments It! ;6
- Page 141 and 142: 10,936 138 New Developmenlt I. Thc
- Page 143 and 144: 140 10,938 New Development. 492 S-8
- Page 145 and 146: 10,940 142 New Developments i92 586
Summary<br />
93<br />
In summary, we believe that the private market has functi<strong>on</strong>ed well in providing acute<br />
health care protecti<strong>on</strong> against major financial loss for the majority of Medicare<br />
beneficiaries. We recognize that there are beneficiaries, however, who cannot afford<br />
private protecti<strong>on</strong>. We urge that any new program focus <strong>on</strong> that segment of the<br />
beneficiary populati<strong>on</strong> not adequately protected by current programs. Regarding l<strong>on</strong>g<br />
term care, we also believe private insurance can play an important role. However,<br />
governmental activities appear necessary to educate the elderly about the need for<br />
protecti<strong>on</strong>, and to provide incentives for purchase of l<strong>on</strong>g term care insurance.<br />
Protecting the elderly from catastrophic expenses can best be d<strong>on</strong>e through a<br />
combinati<strong>on</strong> of public and private sector initiatives, and we look forward to working<br />
with you as you pursue this important topic.<br />
(533:1/21/87)<br />
72-699 0 - 87 -- 4<br />
10
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