Florida slides to 5th from bottom on long-term care scorecard

Palm Beach Post (FL)

June 14--The state with the highest share of older residents ranks among the worst at meeting their needs for long-term care, a new scorecard says.

Senior advocacy group AARP said Florida has slipped to 46th among the states in a study that measures factors such as the cost of private nursing-home care as a percentage of annual household income, the number of private long-term care insurance policies in effect and the proportion of people receiving Medicaid-financed in-home care.

"We are the grayest, but far from the greatest state in America when it comes to supporting family caregivers and caring for frail older people and the disabled," said Jack McRay, AARP Florida advocacy manager. "While there are some bright spots in Florida's long-term care record, it's clear Florida is falling further behind other states."

Even people who tried to protect themselves by buying private long-term care insurance have been hit with sharp premium increases of 50 percent or more in some cases, The Palm Beach Post reported this past year.

"They are forcing people who probably can't afford this increase to give it up when they now need it more than ever," said Bernard Haut of Boynton Beach.

Florida wasn't at the bottom in every category in the Long-Term Services and Support State Scorecard. For example, it ranked 21st on ensuring transitions between hospitals and long-term care in the home or in nursing homes.

But overall Florida has lost ground since ranking as the seventh worst state in a 2014 scorecard, AARP said.

Medicaid is the largest public payer of long-term care services, the report noted, but Florida ranks 49th in Medicaid spending per beneficiary according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The states and U.S. government share financing and control over various Medicaid programs.

"State officials have great flexibility regarding Medicaid policies in the current environment," the report said, noting this determines the types of services offered and the settings in which they are provided. "They establish the eligibility standards for Medicaid coverage. Their decisions can directly affect access to home- and community-based services and choice of services and providers."

More than 10 million people nationwide have tried to protect themselves with long-term care insurance from private companies, but that industry is in crisis.

Insurance companies say the problem is costs have spiralled well past original projections as more people live longer in stages of life where they might need this kind of help. The insurance pays for services for people who need help with bathing, dressing, eating, housework and other aid, at home or in a place such as an assisted-living facility.

Since 2010, cumulative rate increases for long-term-care insurance in Florida have included 53 percent for John Hancock, 39 percent for Prudential and 35 percent for Genworth, The Post reported this past year. State and industry officials say they are looking at possible answers for the future including products that combine long-term care and life insurance.

Meanwhile, the need for such services is only expected to grow, the scorecard announced Wednesday said.

"As people with disabilities live longer and baby boomers grow older, the need for (long-term support and services) will increase significantly, both in numbers and as a percentage of the U.S. population," the report said.

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