Long-term care plan is needed

To the editor:The future of health-insurance programs for Missourians is at stake. Legislators are reviewing a program called MO HealthNet in Senate Bill 577 under the Missouri Health Improvement Act of 2007. It is proposed to replace a Medicaid program that is going to finish in 2008. Most discussions are around cutting costs for seniors and long-term care.

Long-term-care is assistance with daily needs such as dressing and eating. Looking at Nursing Home Data Compendium 2006, I was shocked to find out that nine out of 10 seniors do not want to be in nursing homes. The facts show that most seniors in Missouri prefer a family environment to nursing homes. But when a senior decides to stay at home, he or she can only keep about $1,000 in assets. Thus, seniors are pushed into nursing homes.

There is lack of affordable long-term care plans in Missouri. Legislators should be concerned about expanding long-term care insurance to low-income families. Missouri LTC Partnership program is a partnership between private insurance companies and the state. It allows seniors to obtain insurance which is tax deductible and ultimately saves money for both seniors and the state. There is an asset protection up to the amount of the insurance policy benefit. Unfortunately, it is not for low-income groups.

If Missouri legislators will think about this coverage for lower income families, with specified language in SB 577, at that point one can say that the proposed MO HealthNet program meets the needs of target population.

MASUDA FAYZIEVA, St. Louis