Posts Tagged ‘Continuing’

Insurance Continuing Education Online – LTCI Plans

In 1987 insurers began offering the first employer‑sponsored or group Long Term Care Insurance plans.  As has been the case with policies marketed to individuals, insurance companies have both entered and withdrawn from the market since that time.  Ten years ago, of the 121 companies marketing LTCI policies at that time, less than 20% offered employer‑ sponsored plans.  Still, the number of employers offering group LTCI has begun to rise dramatically, with the most noticeable increase being in small businesses with less than 500 employees.

Many of the employer‑sponsored LTCI plans in place are located in very large employee environments such as IBM, Ford Motor Company, Proctor & Gamble, and state government employee groups.  In addition, most of these plans are not “off the shelf” policies.  Instead, they have been designed specifically for a given group through consultation between the employer and the insurance company.  As can be seen from the figures above, some insurance companies have begun to target small companies as lucrative markets for their plans, though the numbers show that only a very small percentage of all U.S. employer groups have been affected to date.

WHAT FACTORS AFFECT THE GROUP MARKET?

It has taken some time for insurance companies to enter the group LTCI market, the delay usually attributed to the high cost of entering this market.  A significant start-up investment, including case management structures to deal with a myriad of variables in long‑term care, is required.  With a little more than a decade of experience in group LTCI, insurance companies do not yet have a large body of statistical data that they would like to finely hone policy provisions and pricing ‑ factors that can either promote profitability or contribute to high losses.  Things are changing, however.

Insurer reluctance is not the only factor responsible for the small number of employer‑sponsored LTCI plans.  Employers who aren’t exactly scouring the marketplace for additional employee benefits to offer have not yet fully embraced the concept.  Perhaps the main stumbling block to a rapid growth is usually attributed to the high cost of other health benefits – medical insurance, by itself, can create a drain on profitability of a company as it still continues to grow.  Therefore, they are really not interested in an additional benefit.  However this is changing also as employers recognize tax breaks for premiums paid on an LTCI policy.

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Insurance Continuing Education Online – Group LTC Plans

With Group LTC Insurance, some of the conventional features of group plans remain intact while other features are more similar to individual insurance policies.  First of all, the policies might actually be individual LTCI policies.  If so, the policies are fully “portable” if the employee leaves the plan and need not be converted in the traditional way.  Optionally, the employer‑sponsored LTCI plan may be set up like other group coverages, requiring employees who want to continue the insurance to convert to individual policies within a certain period after termination.  (This is called a conversion privilege and not all group insurance plans offer it.)

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR GROUP COVERAGE?

A feature that sets group LTCI coverage apart from other types of group insurance is who may be covered.  Most plans are offered not only to employees and their spouses, but also to the parents of both parties and, sometimes, to children and to retired workers.  In most cases, employees are exempt from medical underwriting ‑ they won’t have to have a medical exam ‑ but it is likely that other family members must have some type of medical screening.  Know the requirements for policies marketed because some insurers require medical underwriting for all parties, including employees, while other group plans might not require medical information about any of the parties.  In some cases, even if medical underwriting is required, it is less stringent than for individual policies, especially for older parents.  The NAIC’s shopper’s guide encourages older people to investigate their children’s Group LTCI coverage if available, indicating that, while medical screening is likely, group coverage might be more advantageous than individual policies.

 

The age at which individuals may purchase employer‑sponsored LTCI coverage is often earlier than the age minimums for individual policies.  Typical existing plans specify ages 30, 35 and 40 as the minimums and at least one plan designed by a large corporation is offered to 20‑year‑olds.  While there are individual policies insuring at these earlier ages, they are fairly rare. Upper age limits vary considerably but generally are similar to individual policies, ages 79 to 85 being typical maximums for purchasing coverage.

WHAT ARE BENEFITS & OTHER PROVISIONS RE: INDIVIDUAL PLANS?

Employer‑sponsored LTC Insurance may be virtually identical to individual policies marketed.  In fact, this would apply to the policy discussed in the Pseudo-Group discussion later in this text.  Most offer a range of daily benefit amounts, benefit periods and elimination periods.  One should always be aware that in many of the existing plans, the employer has worked with the insurance company to decide on the range of features from which employees can choose.

While the employee makes the final choice, the options available may be pre‑selected and, therefore, more limited than with an individual policy.

As for the availability of other benefits and provisions that are found in individual policies, group LTCI plans vary considerably but there is a trend toward including more benefits.  Some existing employer‑sponsored plans include or make available inflation protection, Nonforfeiture or return of premium features, death benefits, reinstatement, restoration of benefits, home care benefits, and others.  Group plans usually pay for care at several levels, have no prior institutionalization requirements, and cover care for Alzheimer’s and other organic brain disease.  Exclusions and pre‑existing conditions limits are similar to those in individual policies.

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Insurance Continuing Education Online – Group LTC Plans

With Group LTC Insurance, some of the conventional features of group plans remain intact while other features are more similar to individual insurance policies.  First of all, the policies might actually be individual LTCI policies.  If so, the policies are fully “portable” if the employee leaves the plan and need not be converted in the traditional way.  Optionally, the employer‑sponsored LTCI plan may be set up like other group coverages, requiring employees who want to continue the insurance to convert to individual policies within a certain period after termination.  (This is called a conversion privilege and not all group insurance plans offer it.)

 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR GROUP COVERAGE?

A feature that sets group LTCI coverage apart from other types of group insurance is who may be covered.  Most plans are offered not only to employees and their spouses, but also to the parents of both parties and, sometimes, to children and to retired workers.  In most cases, employees are exempt from medical underwriting ‑ they won’t have to have a medical exam ‑ but it is likely that other family members must have some type of medical screening.  Know the requirements for policies marketed because some insurers require medical underwriting for all parties, including employees, while other group plans might not require medical information about any of the parties.  In some cases, even if medical underwriting is required, it is less stringent than for individual policies, especially for older parents.  The NAIC’s shopper’s guide encourages older people to investigate their children’s Group LTCI coverage if available, indicating that, while medical screening is likely, group coverage might be more advantageous than individual policies.

 

The age at which individuals may purchase employer‑sponsored LTCI coverage is often earlier than the age minimums for individual policies.  Typical existing plans specify ages 30, 35 and 40 as the minimums and at least one plan designed by a large corporation is offered to 20‑year‑olds.  While there are individual policies insuring at these earlier ages, they are fairly rare. Upper age limits vary considerably but generally are similar to individual policies, ages 79 to 85 being typical maximums for purchasing coverage.

WHAT ARE BENEFITS & OTHER PROVISIONS RE: INDIVIDUAL PLANS?

Employer‑sponsored LTC Insurance may be virtually identical to individual policies marketed.  In fact, this would apply to the policy discussed in the Pseudo-Group discussion later in this text.  Most offer a range of daily benefit amounts, benefit periods and elimination periods.  One should always be aware that in many of the existing plans, the employer has worked with the insurance company to decide on the range of features from which employees can choose.

While the employee makes the final choice, the options available may be pre‑selected and, therefore, more limited than with an individual policy.

As for the availability of other benefits and provisions that are found in individual policies, group LTCI plans vary considerably but there is a trend toward including more benefits.  Some existing employer‑sponsored plans include or make available inflation protection, Nonforfeiture or return of premium features, death benefits, reinstatement, restoration of benefits, home care benefits, and others.  Group plans usually pay for care at several levels, have no prior institutionalization requirements, and cover care for Alzheimer’s and other organic brain disease.  Exclusions and pre‑existing conditions limits are similar to those in individual policies.

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Cosmetology continuing education online

Choosing a career path is an important decision that one has to make. It should not be made in haste and should be given a proper thought. After weighing your entire options one should then look for the options available and what is the best way to achieve that goal. The approach should be very methodical and well planned. It is always better to go in for special courses related to the field you want to enter. Today there are so many options to choose from. There are many niche options that one can chose as a career. Take for example cosmetology. Today it is a full fledged career and a good one at that. Off late it has sprung up enormously and provides a great opportunity as a career. Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatment and includes hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures, pedicures etc. In order to become a professional cosmetologist you need to do a course on cosmetology from a government recognized institute and obtain a certificate from there. Cosmetology Institute of America is an institute that imparts cosmetology continuing education online courses. We have developed a unique and specific continuing education course which has been designed by industry experts and is sure to make you a pro. Our practice tests covers all the areas of cosmetology and offers certificate course to beginners as well as advanced levels with tips on how to make a good business with it.

We offer training on how to build a good clientele, deal with them and offer the best of cosmetology services. Today the demand of good cosmetologist is pretty huge but the number of qualified cosmetologist are very few. Cosmetology Institute of America is expert in cosmetology continuing education online courses and has over the years produced excellent cosmetologists. We have a proven track record and a good student base. The cosmetology continuing education online course is ideal for one and all who wants to a make career in the beauty industry. This course is designed specially to teach you the ins and outs of the cosmetology industry. We give a lot of emphasis on the practical aspect and the amount of experience we have in the industry makes it easy to share real time experiences wit hour students. This course is approved for CE Credit in IL, TX, OH, GA, NC, FL, IA and NE. so if you are looking at the cosmetology continuing education online courses look no further and log on to www.cosmetologyinstituteofamerica.com/  for more information.

William has been a public relations consultant for the last 3 years focusing in the cosmetic industry and related professions. He has a degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas and a Masters degree in market. You can know more about the website Cosmetology continuing education online