LTCFP news

RELEASE ON RECEIPT - October 10, 2005

Averting Financial Disaster for 20 Million -- Local Expert Leads Effort Here

Led Locally by Ken Merritt of Fayetteville, Public-Private Coalition Seeks Long-Term Care Protection for All

Fayetteville, AR, October 10 – According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, by 2025 more than 20 million Americans -- incapacitated athletes and children as well as aging baby boomers -- will need long-term care services. Ordinary health insurance won't cover it. Neither, in all likelihood, will Medicaid, as legislative reform cracks down on benefits claimed by the affluent. Yet, "We can have long-term care protection for every American," says Ken Merritt, Partner of LTC Financial Partners LLC.

Toward that ambitious goal, Merritt's organization is sending a large delegation to the 2005 National LTCi Producers Summit in Kansas City, MO, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel, October 16-18.

"Almost every American will be seriously affected by this," says Merritt. "All it takes is for one member of their family to get hurt or sick for a long period." Merritt believes, as do growing numbers of federal and state legislators, that LTC protection should be as common as auto insurance. "We're going to make it happen!" he asserts. "And it all starts here, at this conference." Over 700 participants are expected, with invited VIP's from government and the private sector.

While immediate disasters command headlines, the long-term care crisis -- which could bankrupt tens of millions -- goes virtually unnoticed. "Most people just don't realize the danger they face," says Merritt. "They're healthy and bullish about their future. What they don't know is that by living longer, they're exposed to more bouts of incapacity than previous generations were." Those bouts require expensive care not covered by regular insurance. A federal awareness campaign, conducted earlier this year, made promising inroads, but "the vast majority of Americans remain in the dark," says Merritt. The Kansas City get-together aims to start fixing that, and also to spark an ever-improving set of public and private-sector solutions.

Ken Merritt began his career in the insurance industry over 32 years ago, and has focused on long term care insurance for the past 7 years. He has received awards and recognition including the National Quality Award, for 22 years and the National Sales Achievement Award for 20 years. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Long Term Care Professional (LTCP). As part of the public education service, Merritt will make himself available to area groups and companies for briefing sessions, after-dinner talks, and lectures. Program chairs may reach him at 479-444-8834.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Ken Merritt of LTC Financial Partners -- 479-444-8834 - www.eranova.com/LTCFP-KenMerritt
Jonas Roeser of LTC Financial Partners - 425-284-4863
Dick Samson of EraNova Institute for LTC Financial Partners – 973-335-3699 – media@eranova.com