The Register advocated for government operated long term care insurance in its lead opinion on 7/15/2013. (“Long-term care policies need attention”) We don’t need or want a government financed program for long term care insurance. President Obama backed out of a government sponsored long term care insurance program when he felt unable to promise that government would not some day step in and require taxpayers to subsidize the plan. We have Medicaid for the poor. That is enough. If anything, our government should encourage people to buy long term care insurance and/or to save for their own long term health care needs. Instead, our government seems content to keep interest rates artificially low so that people will borrow and spend. Low interest rates reduce the returns that insurance companies earn on their reserves, which in turn causes them to increase their long term care insurance rates. Letting interest rates rise to their natural levels would be one of the best ways for government to help improve the incomes of seniors, and help hold down the cost of long term care insurance.
Register editorial: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/comments/article/20130715/OPINION03/307150025/The-Register-s-Editorial-Long-term-care-policies-need-attention
Libertarian Perspectives 