New Report Lauded by Long Term Care Insurance Industry Executive
Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, cited a new report sponsored by the US Treasury that says Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are on "unsustainable paths," posing significant economic risks.
Los Angeles, CA, September 29, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance cited a new report that called further attention to the severe economic strain America’s aging population will place on federal programs such as Medicare and Social Security.
According to the report by the National Research Council and funded by the U.S. Treasury, there are options that can help the nation avoid what others call a very grim reality. “As a nation we need to act sooner rather than kicking the can further down the road,” declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the nation’s long term care insurance industry trade group. “Waiting will only make the matter worse and the cure that much more severe, and yet we seem to be willing to bury our heads and avoid what expert after expert predicts.”
The report notes that the aging of the American population will pose continuing economic challenges for the country for decades to come. According to the report, the ratio of adults aged 65 and over compared with people aged 20 to 64 will increase by 80 percent in the coming decades.
Experts explain that the shift is partly the result of increases in average life expectancy which has risen from 47 years in 1900 to 78 years today. According to Slome, life expectancy continues to grow and is projected to be 84.5 years by the year 2050.
“America is rapidly becoming an aged nation without a plan for dealing with the needs of our people and their families,” Slome concurs. “Declining birth rates among younger people means a smaller proportion of the population will be under 65.”
The report mandated by Congress notes that while some people have saved amply for retirement, between one-fifth and two-thirds of today's seniors have not saved enough, leaving them to rely heavily on Medicare and Social Security -- programs that, along with Medicaid, now account for about 40 percent of all federal spending.
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for roughly 40 percent of all federal spending and 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product according to the authors of the report. The report outlines strategies including increasing the retirement age beyond the currently accepted age of 65 years. A second strategy called for workers to increase their savings in order to have more resources when they retire.
“We’ve called on both Presidential candidates to address the long term care problem facing aging Americans,” Slome notes. “We believe tax incentives are a way to get more people to pay attention and to plan. We praise the authors of this report and Congress for requesting the study but it’s time to take action, talking will not fix this problem.”
The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance was established in 1998 to advocate for the importance of planning for long term care and to support insurance and financial professionals who market solutions. To learn more about long term care insurance costs call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.
According to the report by the National Research Council and funded by the U.S. Treasury, there are options that can help the nation avoid what others call a very grim reality. “As a nation we need to act sooner rather than kicking the can further down the road,” declares Jesse Slome, executive director of the nation’s long term care insurance industry trade group. “Waiting will only make the matter worse and the cure that much more severe, and yet we seem to be willing to bury our heads and avoid what expert after expert predicts.”
The report notes that the aging of the American population will pose continuing economic challenges for the country for decades to come. According to the report, the ratio of adults aged 65 and over compared with people aged 20 to 64 will increase by 80 percent in the coming decades.
Experts explain that the shift is partly the result of increases in average life expectancy which has risen from 47 years in 1900 to 78 years today. According to Slome, life expectancy continues to grow and is projected to be 84.5 years by the year 2050.
“America is rapidly becoming an aged nation without a plan for dealing with the needs of our people and their families,” Slome concurs. “Declining birth rates among younger people means a smaller proportion of the population will be under 65.”
The report mandated by Congress notes that while some people have saved amply for retirement, between one-fifth and two-thirds of today's seniors have not saved enough, leaving them to rely heavily on Medicare and Social Security -- programs that, along with Medicaid, now account for about 40 percent of all federal spending.
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for roughly 40 percent of all federal spending and 10 percent of the nation's gross domestic product according to the authors of the report. The report outlines strategies including increasing the retirement age beyond the currently accepted age of 65 years. A second strategy called for workers to increase their savings in order to have more resources when they retire.
“We’ve called on both Presidential candidates to address the long term care problem facing aging Americans,” Slome notes. “We believe tax incentives are a way to get more people to pay attention and to plan. We praise the authors of this report and Congress for requesting the study but it’s time to take action, talking will not fix this problem.”
The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance was established in 1998 to advocate for the importance of planning for long term care and to support insurance and financial professionals who market solutions. To learn more about long term care insurance costs call the organization’s offices at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website.
Contact
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance
Jesse Slome
818-597-3205
www.aaltci.org
Jesse Slome
818-597-3205
www.aaltci.org
Contact
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