Advocacy in action blog

Family caregivers provide $600 billion in unpaid care each year, often impacting their own career opportunities or their families’ financial security. To help them cope with this burden, NAIFA strongly supports the bipartisan Credit for Caring Act, which would provide a $5,000 tax credit to offset out-of-pocket costs associated with home caregiving. These may include the cost of home modifications, health aides, adult daycare, medicines, transportation, and other support services.

NAIFA Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle participated in a legislative panel at OneAmerica's Long-Term Care Summit. The summit featured discussions by industry thought leaders focused on the future of long-term care, covering everything from industry trends and government and regulation considerations to consumer perspectives.

Chris Bor, LUTCF, CLU, ChFC, a loyal NAIFA member since 1998 and Immediate Past President of NAIFA-WA, testified at a hearing of the Washington State Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee on the use of life insurance, annuities, and policy riders in long-term care planning. He gave an overview of a wide variety of LTC planning options and discussed the value of agents and advisors to consumers. Bor also serves as Vice-Chair of NAIFA's National Membership Committee.

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) knows the importance of the insurance and financial services industry and the role of agents and advisors in the wellbeing of Main Street Americans. He gained much of this understanding in his pre-political career as an insurance professional and NAIFA member.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee on January 27 signed two bills passed by the Legislature that delay and make some improvements to the Washington Cares Fund, a state-run long-term care insurance program.

NAIFA’s Washington state chapter strongly supports proposed legislation, HB 1732, that would delay the implementation of the Washington Cares long-term care insurance program. NAIFA-WA President Chris Wertenberger, loyal NAIFA member since 2002, asked legislators to fast-track the bill during a hearing before the Washington House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on January 11.

For well over a century, NAIFA members have helped individuals, families, and businesses:

NAIFA’s Policy Director Maeghan Gale joined LTCI Partners Managing Director, Tom Riekse, and Director Steve Cain for a panel discussion about recent Long Term Care Insurance legislation.  For many years, Long-Term Care Insurance took a backseat as it relates to legislative action on the state and federal level. However, 2021 has brought a wave of activity as lawmakers consider the best way to support their growing aging populations.

NAIFA's state-level advocacy work is second-to-none, with state chapters and members providing expertise and influence to shape legislation and regulations impacting NAIFA members' businesses and clients across the country.

NAIFA-WA is urging changes to a long-term services bill, HB 1323, to protect employees who have purchased long-term care coverage.