From Obamacare to long-term care

As the public debate over health care reform continues, another proposal – make that three – to reform long-term care has surfaced. Earlier this month, Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced three separate pieces of federal legislation intended to "support family caregivers and protect consumers from abuses in long-term care insurance."

"More families are looking to buy long-term care insurance, but the insurance companies haven't always played fair," the Democrat from Minnesota said in a statement.

"Families continue to be the main providers of care for aging or ailing relatives. It's important that they get the support they need, so seniors are able to live independently and stay in their own homes as long as possible," she added.

• The Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Right-to-Know Act (S. 1636) will require insurance companies to provide a one-page standardized disclosure form along with the written long-term care policy.
• The Long-Term Care Insurance Integrity Act (S. 1626) will create an independent third-party review board to address claim denials.
• The Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act (S. 1604) will provide a tax credit of up to $1,200 per year, and will establish the National Caregiving Resource Center. The tax credit will begin to phase out for families making over $120,000 and will be eliminated for families making over $200,000.

The bills are co-sponsored by Sens. Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).