Healthcare industry experts are ramping up pressure on candidates for the 2008 election cycle to address the issue of long-term care planning, specifically a measure that would factor long-term care insurance into the cost of Medicare.

Industry leaders overwhelmingly support a long-term care benefit as part of Medicare, a national survey has found. Nearly 200 experts were polled, with almost four of five supporting a provision that would add a premium to Medicare to help cover the cost of long-term care, an increasing concern for Baby Boomers—the first of which will begin drawing Social Security this year.

More than six of 10 of those polled supports a tax incentive for individuals who purchase their own long-term care insurance.

The news comes as the government undergoes a public-awareness campaign to inform the public about the need for long-term care planning. Called Own Your Future, the pilot program is underway in 16 states, and involves sending out informational packets to those who request them. In Pennsylvania alone, 13 percent of people aged 45 to 65 requested Own Your Future kits.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70 percent of Americans who reach the age of 65 will need some sort of long-term care services.

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Own Your Future (Federal Government awareness campaign)