This year’s report on obesity was released at the end of September by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health. This marks the 12th year that the report has been published. The findings in the report are based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collected in 2014.
The report states that obesity rates have fortunately, for the most part, remained steady over the past year. They nonetheless, unfortunately, remain very high in every state in the US.
Overall, more than 30 percent of adults in our nation are now obese and when it comes to our youth, obesity levels are nearly 17 percent of those ages 2 to 19 years. The percentage of children ages 2 to 5 is 8 percent.
The data in the report exposes the spike in obesity rates since 1980. In 1980, not a single state registered more than a 15 percent obesity factor. By 1991, the rate had risen to about 20 percent. In 2014, the rate hovers at around 30 percent in 22 of the 50 states with 21 percent being the average in all 50 states. Arkansas, West Virginia and Mississippi top the list at over 35%.
Obesity is an epidemic which has enormous health ramifications. The CDC estimates that it adds $150 billion to U.S. annual medical costs as 78 million Americans grapple primarily with diabetes, cancer and heart disease. A number of other health issues contribute also.
Here’s the U.S. top 10 states having the highest rates of obesity:
1. Arkansas – 35.9%
2. West Virginia – 35.7%
3. Mississippi – 35.5%
4. Louisiana – 34.9%
5. Alabama – 33.5%
6. Oklahoma – 33%
7. Indiana – 32.7%
8. Ohio – 32.6%
9. North Dakota – 32.2%
10. South Carolina – 32.1%
Source: Trust for America’s Health Author(s): Levi J., Segal L., St. Laurent R., and Rayburn J.
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Anthem: nearly 4 in 10 Americans lack life insurance
Read the article here.
Press Releases:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Press Release
LIFE CARE BENEFIT PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
LONG TERM CARE ADVOCATES INTRODUCES A NEW BENEFIT PLAN TO HELP SENIORS PAY FOR EXTENDED CARE SERVICES AND SUPPORT
Funding option converts a life insurance policy into a monthly payment stream to cover all forms of care services.
(October 30, 2014) – RALEIGH, N.C. Long Term Care Advocates announced today the introduction of Life Care Benefit as an innovative financial planning tool to help families struggling with the costs of long-term care. The Life Care Benefit program converts a life insurance policy into a monthly benefit that pays for any form of Senior Care including Homecare, Assisted Living, Nursing Home, Memory Care, and Hospice.
At Long Term Care Advocates, they make it their responsibility to help their clients understand the emotional, physical and financial consequences associated with providing or paying for care over an extended period of time. The advisors at Long Term Care Advocates are committed to helping their clients create an appropriate plan to meet their specific needs. It is essential that their clients have a plan in order to take action to protect their loved ones while they still have options.
One of the biggest challenges families face when confronting long term care is the monthly expenses. For millions of seniors with a life insurance policy they now have an option available to convert a portion of the death benefit to help cover these costs.
Not to be confused with long-term care insurance, an annuity, or a policy loan; the Life Care Benefit is unique because there are no waiting periods to qualify, no limitations, no costs to apply, and no premium payments. Instead of lapsing or surrendering a life insurance policy, the death benefit is converted into a “living benefit” in the form of an irrevocable, FIDC insured account that makes monthly payments automatically to the account holder’s choice of care provider. Sometimes compared to as “a reverse mortgage for a life insurance policy”; the account is tax advantaged and a Medicaid qualified spend-down.
“Most people do not realize that a life insurance policy is an asset that they are legally entitled to convert into another form of coverage instead of lapsing or surrendering their policy”, said Kevin Hopkins, CLTC, Principal Adviser, “Long Term Care Advocates is thrilled to give people a quick and simple option to convert a life insurance policy’s death benefit into a predictable stream of income and immediately apply that income towards their choice of senior care.”
The Life Care Benefit Plan has become an accepted form of payment for every form of Senior Care services across the United States because it pays out the present day value of a policy and keeps the account holder private pay, delaying their need to go onto Medicaid and allowing them to choose the form of care they want.
“Seniors don’t want to go onto Medicaid and move straight into a nursing home”, said Kevin, “and a big advantage of the Benefit Account is that it allows for immediate use, and as care needs change the flexibility to be able to adjust the monthly benefit amount and move from one form of care to another.”
For more information contact:
Kevin Hopkins, CLTC Long Term Care Advocates Office 919-975-2484 Kevin@longtermcareadvocates.com www.longtermcareadvocates.com
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