Many private long-term care plans provide lower rates for those who pass strict underwriting requirements, while in the federal program there will be only minimal questions about the individual’s health in many cases. It’s expected that active employees will only undergo “short form” underwriting-a half-dozen or so questions about their health-and that their spouses might have to answer several more questions. All others, including retirees and family members, might have “long form” underwriting of potentially several pages of questions about their health with phone calls and visits possible. The effect on premium rates for those subject only to minimal underwriting is that those who could pass strict underwriting will be in the same risk pool with those who couldn’t, and will have to share the added premium cost.