Taking on Long-Term Care

Here's an exciting idea from the Commonwealth Fund: Add a longterm care benefit to Medicare. It wouldn't be a freebie. It would be financed by a premium to pay for care. It might put the long-term-care insurance sector out of business but it would spell major R-E-L-I-E-F for state Medicaid budgets.

According to a recent Health Care Opinion Leaders survey on the subject, the Commonwealth Fund (and Modern Healthcare) found that four out of five respondents favor adding such a benefit to Medicare. More than two-thirds believe it's important that the health reform plans of the presidential candidates address the quality and financing of long-term care.

The opinion leaders surveyed came from academia, the health care and insurance businesses, and government and advocacy groups. Elected officials were excluded. Just imagine the results if governors had been included.