Governor Rendell Announces Record Response to Pennsylvania's 'Own Your Future' Long-Term...

Governor Rendell Announces Record Response to Pennsylvania's 'Own Your Future'
Long-Term Care Planning Effort

HARRISBURG, Pa.,June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell
said today that more than 200,000 people have requested Own Your Future
planning kits since March, when Pennsylvania launched its outreach effort
urging individuals to take a more active role in planning their own long-term
care needs.

The federal government says Pennsylvania's 13 percent response rate is
approximately double the rate seen by any of the 16 states that took part in
similar outreach efforts. The typical response rate reported by states is
between 5 and 7 percent.

"The strong response to our Own Your Future campaign suggests that
Pennsylvanians are seriously considering their future long-term living needs,"
Governor Rendell said. "Individuals who begin planning today will have a
broader range of options available to them in their later years, which can
help to ensure greater financial security and peace of mind."

By 2020, one in four Pennsylvanians will be age 60 or older. Many consumers
are not aware that Medicare does not cover the cost of many long-term care
services.

More than 1.6 million Pennsylvania households with residents aged 45 to 65
received a letter from Governor Rendell urging them to request the Own Your
Future kit, which offers information on financial planning, legal services,
housing, transportation, long-term care insurance and more.

Pennsylvanians may continue to request the Own Your Future planning kits by
calling 1-866-752-6582 or by visiting www.longtermcare.gov/campaign. The Own
Your Future campaign is coordinated by the state Department of Aging in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses.To find out more
about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter,
visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT: Gary Miller
717-783-1116

Jane Crawford, Aging
717-783-1549

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Gary Miller of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116; or
Jane Crawford of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, +1-717-783-1549