Gov. Ed to Jane: You Are OLD and You Are Going to DIE!!

Mortality has been on my mind this past month. In February a cousin died; he was 50. I had only seen him once in the past 40 or so years so there wasn't really a personal sense of loss, but it does make one think. Later in February Mr. J's mother died after a long illness.

So it did not exactly cheer me up to receive a letter from Gov. Rendell today regarding long-term care insurance. First off, the printing was blurred. As someone just getting used to lined bifocals it is especially disconcerting to try to read something that doesn't get any clearer not matter how much I play trombone with it. Whoever had the printing contract on that should be taken off the state vendors list.

The governor writes:

Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian:

I am writing you about one of the most important issues we all have need to consider: planning ahead for our long term living needs. Although we often do not like to think about the challenges that come as we age, it is likely that most of us will need long term living services and supports at some point in the future. The cost of long-term care is very high and Medicare generally does not pay for it. If we do not plan ahead, covering the costs of these services can be a major burden to us and to our families.

As Governor, I am committed to ensuring that Pennsylvanians experience a positive quality of life along their entire life span. By the year 2020, one in four Pennsylvanians will be age 60 or older. This is why I encourage you to learn more about Own Your Future, a partnership between Pennsylvania and the federal government to help Pennsylvanians between the age of 45 and 65 plan ahead for their long term living needs.

It goes on for two more paragraphs. There is a free long-term care planning kit available at www.longtermcare.gov/campaign.

The gist of the letter, as I read it, is take care of yourself, Honey, because you are on your own. Don't you fret, Ed. Mr. J and I already have long-term care insurance. However, you might want to look into that printing company.