Sen. Klobuchar introduces long-term care bills

Klobuchar
Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday during Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Sen. Amy Klobuchar has introduced a bill that would create an independent third-party board to review complaints from long-term care policy holders.

Klobuchar said the legislation is necessary because some seniors have been sold policies that don't pay up when they need them.

"We've seen with the new world of long-term care insurance that there are some denials of insurance that most likely shouldn't have happened," she said. "Then people have to go to court and it's really expensive. So having a third party review board, which actually members of Congress have right now, would be a very good thing in terms of saving money."

Klobuchar also introduced a bill that would require long-term care insurers to simplify their policy disclosure forms. That legislation would require insurers to provide consumers with a one-page summary of their benefit that's easy to understand.

"More and more people are going to be looking at long-term care insurance as people are living longer and longer," Klobuchar. "Right now there are some real problems with people not understanding the policies. So we have a bill to provide consumers with an easy to understand, one page disclosure form, similar to what we've done with mortgages."

She is also proposing the creation of a tax credit of up to $1,200 per year for families caring for an aging or ailing relative.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.