The Long-Term Care Security Act required the federal government to offer long-term care insurance to its employees, their families, and others. The act also required GAO to conduct a study of the competitiveness of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, which began in 2002, compared with individual and group products generally available in the private market. GAO compared the federal program's benefits, premiums, enrollment rates, and enrollee characteristics with other products over a 3-year period. GAO also compared the federal program's early claims experience with initial expectations.

The perks for American servicemen and women. The US Armed Forces exists in a reality all its own. Members are fed, paid, clothed, housed, and protected in a way few other American citizens can claim. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines can shop at low-price grocery stores, protect their families with low-cost insurance, and earn a lifetime pension before they turn 40 years old. In fact, military life offers so many benefits and perks, it’s hard for the average serviceman or -woman to keep track of them. Finally, here is a guide that explains the benefits and how to obtain them. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, readers will find: • Clear and precise explanations of active-duty family benefits. • Details on veteran education and medical benefits. • A money-saving guide to discounts for both active duty personnel and veterans.

The basic motivators will drive people to want to learn more about this topic—fear, money, and insecurity. Consumers fear losing their life savings to LTC costs. Yet, they hesitate to buy insurance with an annual premium of $1,800 without knowing what it covers. In October of 2002 (one month after this book's release), the federal government will be rolling out a payroll deduction plan whereby all government employees and retirees (approximately 18 million people) will have the same opportunity to save for their long-term care needs as they currently have for their 401(k).