Creates a task force on universal long term care insurance

Summary of provisions

This bill would authorize the creation of a eighteen member task force to develop a plan for the provision and financing of universal long term care insurance for all New Yorkers. The task force would analyze current long term care insurance offerings in the State, determine how the use of individual taxpayer contributions may be used to fund the purchase of long term care insurance for all residents and develop the benefits and mechanisms necessary for provid- ing long term care insurance for all New Yorkers. The Director of the State Office for the Aging would serve as the chairperson of the task force. The teak force would meet at least once every two months and at the call of the chairperson.

In addition, the task force would issue four reports including, an initial six month report, two interim reports and within 24 months of its initial meeting a final report to the Governor, Majority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly. The task force would also be required to hold at least six public hearings related to the issue of providing and financing long term care insurance for all New York resi- dents. The members of the task farce would not receive any compensation for their services except for any expenses they would incur in the performance of their duties.

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

This bill would add a new section 1117-a to the Insurance Law.

Justification

The age sixty-five plus population is expected to more than double between the years 2000 and 2030 to number almost seventy million nationally. Sixty percent of those who reach age sixty-five will need some form of long term care. In comparison to the State's total population increase of five and one half percent between the years 1990 and 2000, the number of individuals age eighty-five and older increased by twenty-five and one half percent and is the fastest growing segment of our population. Dynamic changes in the State's population will continue to increase as the baby boom generation reaches age sixty and continues to mature. As one would anticipate from these shifts in demo- graphics, the need for affordable long term care services is growing and is expected to accelerate at a dramatic rate,

In New York State, the average yearly cost of a nursing home can range from seventy thousand dollars to.one hundred fifteen thousand dollars. Twenty-,-four hour home health care can cost more than twice this much. Many New Yorkers are unable to afford the high cost of long term care

insurance and rely on Medicaid in order to pay for the costs of home health or nursing home care.

New York State has an obligation to promote the general welfare of its citizens by enabling them to access the long term care they will need in their old age without having to impoverish themselves. Thereby, this bill would create a task force to develop a plan for establishing a system of mandatory long term care insurance for all New Yorkers. This approach, premised on the principal of universal coverage in exchange for universal responsibility, would ensure that every resident receives the protection of long term care insurance in his or her old age.

Prior legislative history

2003-04 A.11313 referred to insurance 2005-06 A8907 passed assembly 2007-08 A.855 referred to insurance

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

this act shall take effect immediately.