Congress to probe LTC insurance practices
A House committee has started to investigate long-term care insurance policy sellers as a result of their high number of denials for nursing home claims.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee is focusing on Conseco Inc. and Penn Treaty American Corp. Committee members sent letters to the CEOs of the companies requesting documents, including complaints, grievances, and appeals/reconsideration requests from long-term care policyholders.Committee leaders said they would look into allegations of unfair and deceptive business practices by LTC insurers. The probe also will spotlight the impact of improper claims denials on the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Penn Treaty said it would cooperate with the investigation.
See the letters to the companies at http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/Conseco.052307.Prieur.ltr.Long%20Term%20Care.pdf and http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/Penn%20Treaty.052307.Hunt.ltr.Long%20Term%20Care.pdf.
