Own Your Future is a Long-Term Care Awareness Campaign to encourage Marylanders to begin planning for their future long-term care needs now. The initiative includes a letter from Governor Ehrlich to Maryland residents ages 50 to 70. The key message is that long-term care needs are best met by putting an established plan in place.
Marylanders can receive a free Tool Kit that includes a 28-page booklet and an audio CD with planning hints and Maryland-specific information. The Tool Kit package includes information on how Marylanders can plan for financial, housing and health care needs as people age or in case of illness or accident and features examples of long-term care planning success stories. Tool Kits can be ordered by calling 1-866-PLAN-LTC (1-866-752-6582).
http://www.aoa.gov/ownyourfuture

"We want to help all Marylanders achieve the highest quality of life possible during their retirement years," said Governor Ehrlich. "National statistics indicate that more than 60 percent of people will require some type of long term care assistance. Offering information and access to resources is an important service, integral to the public health and safety pillars of the Ehrlich Administration."

Maryland has joined forces with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Governors Association, the U.S. Administration on Aging, and the National Conference of State Legislatures to sponsor the initiative. Lack of awareness among the general public about the risks of long-term care, as well as misunderstanding regarding Medicare coverage of long-term care services prompted Maryland and seven other states to participate in the campaign. Long-term care is expensive and can deplete a person‚s finances since it is not paid through traditional health funding sources such as Medicare or private insurance.