Recent Articles and Publications
Program Launches and Other Innovations
Recent Announcements
LifePlans commemorates Fall Prevention Awareness Week
Waltham, MA (PRWEB) - Sept. 24, 2015 – Reducing the fear of falling is one oftoverlooked
way to lessen the risk of injury in older individuals, said Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D.,
Chief Research and Development Officer for LifePlans, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Munich Re, as he marked the start of National Fall Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 23-
29, 2015)...
Fall Prevention Program Developed by LifePlans Proven to Reduce Incidence of Falls and Claims Costs Among Seniors
Waltham, MA, June 24, 2015 – LifePlans, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Munich Re, announced today that its fall prevention intervention and wellness program has been proven through evidence-based results to significantly reduce the risk and rate of falls among elderly Americans. Further, it has been demonstrated to lower the incidence of insurance claims…
LifePlans, Inc. Announces Selection of New President and COO Waltham, June 25, 2013 – LifePlans, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Munich American Reassurance Company, announced today the appointment of Gary Guiser as president and chief operating officer effective July 1, 2013. In this role, Guiser will provide strategic management for all products and services offered by LifePlans. By aligning all operating functions in support of LifePlans’ vision and focus, Guiser will drive the continued success of the organization’s insurance business and lead the transition toward broadening the organization’s healthcare services expertise.
MedNet Munich Health North AmericaSM (MedNet) Introduces LifePlans,Inc. “We are pleased to introduce LifePlans, Inc. as a preferred provider of innovative telephonic and in-person clinical Health Risk Assessment (HRAs), Care Transitions and Fall Prevention programs for Medicare Advantage, Special Needs and commercial health plans serving adult and aging populations.”
Recent Articles and Publications
The Historical Development and Current Implementation of LTCI Benefit Eligibility Triggers
“Behind the Data”, October 2011
This issue includes selected findings from research conducted by LifePlans designed to understand the historical development of long-term care insurance (LTCI) benefit eligibility triggers and how insurers are applying them today.
For access to this article, please contact:
Denise Liston Vice President Long Term Care ServicesThe LIFT Wellness Program: Impact of a Fall Prevention and Wellness Initiative
“Behind the Data”, June 2011
Falls constitute one of the most significant and common causes of injury and disability for the elderly and are a major driver of excess mortality and health care costs. However, there is little empirical data to support the commonly held belief that falls are preventable and prevention programs work. In this issue, we discuss a national fall prevention and wellness initiative that we have been conducting and the positive preliminary results we are seeing.
For access to this article, please contact:
Marc Cohen Chief Research and Development OfficerThe Historical Development of Benefit Eligibility Triggers Underlying the CLASS Plan The SCAN Foundation Technical Brief Series, Spring 2011 By Marc Cohen, Jocelyn Gordon and Jessica Miller (LifePlans, Inc.) This brief provides background on the historical development of benefit eligibility triggers in the private long-term care (LTC) insurance market. Such a review is important because understanding how these triggers came into being, and the intent and forces that shaped their development, can provide important information to those charged with implementing the CLASS Plan.
Understanding How Long-Term Care Benefit Triggers Are Implemented in the Private Insurance Setting By Marc Cohen, Jocelyn Gordon and Jessica Miller (LifePlans, Inc.) The SCAN Foundation Technical Brief Series, Spring 2011 This brief provides information about how long-term care (LTC) insurers implement benefit eligibility triggers in the private insurance market both from a contractual and process perspective. The way in which companies have operationalized benefit eligibility triggers can inform the development of regulations for CLASS.
The Independent In-Person Assessment Process By Jocelyn Gordon, Marc Cohen, and Jessica Miller (LifePlans, Inc.) The SCAN Foundation Technical Brief Series, Spring 2011 This brief provides information on the benefit eligibility assessment process in the private long-term care (LTC) insurance industry. It focuses on how long-term care insurers use the information in the adjudication process, who is involved in the process and how Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and cognition are assessed. This is particularly important because one of the first responsibilities of those charged with implementing CLASS is to develop an assessment system for eligibility for CLASS benefits.
Tolerating Risk: A Look at LTC Underwriting Strategies
“Behind the Data”, January 2011
As part of an ongoing commitment to providing valuable data and information to the LTC and health industry, LifePlans has been conducting a bi-annual Underwriting Practices Survey for the last fifteen years. In this article, we focus on the trend in risk strategies and tolerance over the past decade.
For access to this article, please contact:
Denise Liston Vice President Long Term Care ServicesAssisted Living Facilities: The Changing LTC Provider Landscape “Behind the Data”, July 2010 Long-term care insurance acquired the label of “nursing home insurance” years ago, when that was all that most plans covered. Over the last decade, however, coverage expanded to encompass a greater part of the care continuum. That coverage has led to dramatic changes in the way that care is used by LTC claimants. Studies conducted by LifePlans Inc. have shown that only a small minority of the most severely disabled or cognitively impaired policyholders use their comprehensive insurance coverage to pay for care in nursing homes.
Private Long-term Care Insurance: Value to Claimants and Implications for Long-term Care Financing “The Gerontologist”, March 2010 Authored by Pamela Doty, PhD, Marc A. Cohen, PhD, Jessica Miller, MA, and Xiaomei Shi, MA The purpose of this study was to obtain a profile of individuals with private long-term care (LTC) insurance as they begin using paid LTC services and track their patterns of service use, satisfaction with services and insurance, claims denial rates, and transitions over a 28-month period.
The Complimentarity of Public and Private Long-Term Care Coverage “Health Affairs”, January 2010 Authored by David G. Stevenson, Marc A. Cohen, Eileen J. Tell, and Brian Burwell Discussions about long-term care financing often get mired in the false dichotomy that long-term care should be primarily either a public or a private responsibility. Our starting premise is that public and private long-term care coverage can best serve complementary roles. Therefore, public policy should focus on supporting both mechanisms to achieve efficient and equitable outcomes. Presented to National Press Club January 5, 2010 by Marc A. Cohen, PhD.
Additional LifePlans research reports are available here.
Recent Presentations
8th Geneva Association Health and Aging Conference Presentation: Screening for dementia and the impacts on mortality and morbidity in LTC insurance Featuring Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D. November 14-15, 2011 Toronto, Canada
National Health Policy Forum Presentation: “Financing Long-Term Care: The Private Insurance Market” Presented by Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D. April 15, 2011 Washington, DC
Society of Actuaries Discussion: "Living to 100: Survival at Advanced Ages" Paper presented: The relation between cognitive impairment and mortality rates among Long Term Insurance Applicants January 5-7, 2011 Orlando, FL Authors: Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D., Xiaomei Shi, Jessica Miller
2010 Maxwell Policy Research Symposium Presentation: “It Takes Two to Tango: A Perspective on Public and Private Coverage for Long-Term Care” Presented by Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D. June 11, 2010 Syracuse, NY
Washington Press Club Presentation: ”The Complementarity of Public and Private Long-Term Care Coverage” Presented by Marc A. Cohen, Ph.D. January 5, 2010 Washington, DC Authors: David Stevenson, Marc Cohen, Eileen Tell, and Brian Burwell
Testimony before the Senate Finance Committee of the United States Congress Medicaid Waste, Fraud, and Abuse: Threatening the Health Care Safety Net Featuring Joyce Ruddock June 29, 2005
Program Launches and Other Innovations
August 2011: Launched LIFT Wellness program with 14,000 MA members of a large Blue Cross Plan.
September 2010: Launched Care transitions Program with Special Needs Plans and reduced hospital readmission rates by 25%. Program expanded and now includes large provider system.
January 2010: Launched Fall Prevention Bathroom Safety Evaluation program with 60,000 in New York
January 2008: Launched National Demonstration of LIFT Wellness program sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services to reduce falls among the elderly. Program is currently being implemented by a number of health plans with over 10,000 participants. Self-reported fall rates have decreased 29% over a 12-month period.