LTC Early Enrollment Period Wrapping Up

The special early enrollment period for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program ends May 15, although the regular open season for those wishing to join the program is not far off: it begins July 1 and will run through the end of the calendar year. Those waiting out the early enrollment period in anticipation of the regular open season-by all accounts, the vast majority of eligible employees, retirees and family members-will have several options available to them not available during the early enrollment period. Most notably, there will be the offering of lifetime coverage, rather than coverage for a fixed period of years that creates a pool of money for beneficiaries to use, and an offering of a “facilities-only” option in addition to coverage for both facility-based and at-home care. Those who sign up during the early enrollment period will be allowed to switch to such coverage during the regular open season and keep the benefit of their age when they first enrolled, in case they have a birthday in the meantime. To request an early enrollment kit, call 1-800-582-3337.