| Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will start | | | | 2030. Meanwhile the average growth in the |
| a new company that will offer long term care | | | | number of long term care policies has been |
| insurance policies beginning in July 2006 and | | | | 18% a year.COMPANY WILL GO NATIONAL WITH ITS |
| concentrate on providing long-term care | | | | LONG TERM CARE INSURANCEThe new company |
| services to individuals.The individual | | | | expects to have 12 employees the first year |
| policies would include coverage for assisted | | | | and expects to expand its long term care |
| living and nursing care but there would be no | | | | business to other states.Currently, there are |
| group coverage products available.CHRONIC | | | | about 100 insurance companies, across the |
| ILLNESSES CAN BE COVERED BY LONG TERM CARE | | | | nation that sell long term health insurance |
| INSURANCEUnlike traditional medical insurance | | | | products. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, |
| coverage, long term care coverage helps | | | | which provides health care benefits to 4.7 |
| patients address chronic illnesses and | | | | million members, will be the sole investor in |
| disabilities that employer policies and | | | | the newly formed company."What you will see, |
| Medicare don't cover. They usually include | | | | traditionally, is that there have been |
| meals and help with daily activities such as | | | | several companies that offer such products," |
| bathing and getting dressed. This will help | | | | said Mohit Ghose, a spokesman for America's |
| protect them as the average cost of nursing | | | | Health Insurance Plans, a Washington, D.C. |
| home care is more than $50,000 a year, | | | | based healthcare association representing |
| according to the AARP.U.S. Census data | | | | 1,300 member insurance companies. "I think |
| suggest that the population of people 65 and | | | | more choice for consumers is always a good |
| older will double to more than 70 million by | | | | thing. |