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14/09/2004
Tories propose private insurance scheme for residential care
In a busy week for policy announcements, the Tory leader has today unveiled a private insurance scheme which he believes will "avoid the need for old people to sacrifice their life savings and property" to pay for residential care.
Addressing a special Conservative Party Older People's Summit in Westminster, Michael Howard proposed a three-year partnership scheme involving the government, the insurance industry, and families.
Under the Tory plans, people who take out an insurance plan that meets the cost of three years' long-term care in old age would be "guaranteed free long-term care" by government beyond those three years, regardless of their assets.
At the same time, free means-tested long-term care would still be available to those whose assets are too low to meet any long-term care costs privately, Mr Howard said.
"For many people, the last few years of their lives can be spent in residential care. Without proper planning, that can end up meaning that someone's entire life savings and property are used to pay for that care – 40,000 people suffer this indignity every year," he said.
"No one would be worse off. And many would be better off. The current system is unfair. It encourages people to run down their assets. It penalises people who have saved.
"Our proposed three-year partnership scheme would be fairer, more transparent and would provide a vital safety net."
Mr Howard also pledged action to "tackle Britain's worsening pensions crisis", by increasing the basic state pension, lifting one million old people out of means-testing, and encouraging a return to the savings culture.
(gmcg/mb)
Addressing a special Conservative Party Older People's Summit in Westminster, Michael Howard proposed a three-year partnership scheme involving the government, the insurance industry, and families.
Under the Tory plans, people who take out an insurance plan that meets the cost of three years' long-term care in old age would be "guaranteed free long-term care" by government beyond those three years, regardless of their assets.
At the same time, free means-tested long-term care would still be available to those whose assets are too low to meet any long-term care costs privately, Mr Howard said.
"For many people, the last few years of their lives can be spent in residential care. Without proper planning, that can end up meaning that someone's entire life savings and property are used to pay for that care – 40,000 people suffer this indignity every year," he said.
"No one would be worse off. And many would be better off. The current system is unfair. It encourages people to run down their assets. It penalises people who have saved.
"Our proposed three-year partnership scheme would be fairer, more transparent and would provide a vital safety net."
Mr Howard also pledged action to "tackle Britain's worsening pensions crisis", by increasing the basic state pension, lifting one million old people out of means-testing, and encouraging a return to the savings culture.
(gmcg/mb)
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