Maine Long-term Care Partnership Program

What is the Maine Long-term Care Partnership Program?

The Maine Long-Term Care Partnership Program provides that certain long-term care (LTC) insurance policies can qualify for special treatment under MaineCare (Medicaid) rules. Before July 1, 2009, insurers offered only traditional long-term care insurance policies. Now insurers can sell partnership policies as well.

A list of Bureau-approved partnership policies is posted on the Bureau’s website, www.maine.gov/insurance. Some Bureau-approved policies may no longer be sold, so please check with the insurance company for available products.

If you have a traditional LTC policy, your existing policy may be eligible to be exchanged for a partnership policy.

How are Partnership Policies Treated Differently Under MaineCare?

If you have a long-term care partnership policy, you may be able to keep assets of a greater value than normally allowed for enrollment in MaineCare. MaineCare cannot recover this higher asset value from your estate.
For you to be accepted by MaineCare, you also must meet income eligibility limits. The Partnership Program does not affect income eligibility.

What Makes a LTC Policy Eligible for Partnership Treatment?

For your traditional LTC policy to be eligible for partnership treatment, there are three conditions that must be met:

1) The traditional policy must be federally qualified for income tax incentives. A statement must appear on the front page of the policy stating that it is tax qualified.

2) The traditional policy may need inflation protection depending on your age when you purchased the policy. Inflation protection annually increases your covered benefits.
If you were age 60 or under when you bought your policy, it must provide at least 3% compound interest;
Ages 61 through 75, no less than 3% simple interest;
Age 76 and older, no inflation protection is required.

3) The traditional long-term care policy must have specific consumer protections.

****In addition, your insurer must be currently marketing partnership policies.****

How Will I Know If I Have An Eligible Policy?

If your insurance company is currently marketing partnership policies, they may have to send you a notice regarding your eligibility, but it depends upon when your traditional LTC policy was issued.

Issued on or after July 1, 2004:
For traditional long-term care policies issued on or after July 1, 2004, your insurance company must review your policy and notify you of its partnership program eligibility.

Issued before July 1, 2004:
For traditional long-term care policies purchased before July 1, 2004, you must ask your insurance company, preferably in writing, by September 28, 2012, if your policy is eligible for exchange.

What Happens If My Policy Is Eligible For Partnership Treatment? What if It’s Not?

If your traditional LTC policy meets the required criteria, your insurer must provide you, either automatically or upon your request (explained above), with an “Important Notice Regarding Your Policy’s Long-term Care Insurance Partnership Status” (“Important Notice”) and a policy amendment. These documents will serve as proof to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (which administers MaineCare) that the policy is intended to qualify under the Partnership Program. The insurance company may not medically underwrite or charge an additional premium for the amendment.

If your traditional long-term care insurance policy does not qualify, you may be able to replace your traditional policy with a partnership policy. The new policy may, however, be subject to medical underwriting and the costs may be greater depending upon your age. The benefits of program participation must be weighed against the potential costs of new coverage.

I Bought a Partnership Policy in My Home State, But I Am Moving to Maine—will it Qualify under the Maine Partnership Program?
If your home state recognizes Maine partnership policies under its program at the time of your MaineCare application, then your home state policy will qualify for Partnership Policy treatment under MaineCare.

If you purchased a traditional LTC policy outside of Maine, it will not be eligible to be exchanged for a Maine partnership policy.

If you are unsure if your traditional long-term care insurance policy is eligible for an exchange or have additional questions about the Partnership Program, you can always contact the Bureau of Insurance for assistance.

Where Can I Purchase a Partership Policy?

The companies listed below have policies approved for use in the Long-term Care Partnership Program.

For a list of approved policy numbers, please contact the Bureau or refer to our complete list here.

Those companies listed with an X are still selling long-term care insurance as of July, 2012 or later. Please contact the company directly to find out if it is actively marketing partnership policies.

INSURANCE COMPANY
Allianz Life Ins. Co. of North America		No longer selling LTC
American General Life Ins. Co.		No longer selling LTC
Assurity Life Ins. Co.		No longer selling LTC
Bankers Life & Casualty Co.	X	(800) 231-9150
Berkshire Life Ins. Co. of America		No longer selling LTC
Genworth Life Ins. Co.	X	(888) 436-9678
John Hancock Life Ins. Co. (USA)	X	(800) 377-3711
Massachusetts Mutual Life Ins. Co	X	(800) 767-1000 ext. 22222
Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co.	X	(800) 775-6000
New York Life Ins. Co.	X	(800) 224-4582
Northwestern LTC Ins. Co.	X	(800) 890-6704
Prudential Ins. Co. of America		No longer selling LTC
State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co.	X	contact a local agent
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans	X	(800) 847-4836
Transamerica Life Ins. Co.	X	(866) 475-8986
United of Omaha Life Ins. Co.	X	(800) 775-6000

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