Arkansas Long-Term Care Training Requirement
Effective July 1, 2008 a long-term care training requirement will be in effect for producers in Arkansas. The initial long-term care training must be completed no later than July 1, 2009.
Visit the Arkansas Insurance Department web page on Long-Term Care training to learn more.
Overview of Long-Term Care Training Requirement
Initial 8-hour LTC training requirement: Before selling, soliciting or negotiating LTC insurance products in Arkansas, producers must complete an initial 8-hour, state-approved LTC training course.
Ongoing 4-hour LTC training requirement: After meeting the initial training requirement, producers must complete 4 hours of state-approved LTC training in every 24-month period following the initial training.
A Full Copy of the Rule Pertaining to Producers
Arkansas Rule 13 outlines these new producer training requirements. Below is the long-term care training requirement as published by the state:
A. A producer is not authorized to sell, solicit or negotiate with respect to long-term
care insurance except as authorized by Ark. Code Ann. §23-64-501 et seq.
(1) An individual may not sell, solicit or negotiate long-term care insurance unless the individual is licensed as an insurance producer for accident and health or sickness or life and has completed a one-time training course by or before January 1, 2009. In addition, an insurer shall assure that no individual may sell, solicit or negotiate long-term care insurance until such individual meets the insurer’s training requirements. The training shall meet the requirements set forth in Subsection B.
(2) An individual already licensed and selling, soliciting or negotiating long-term
care insurance on July 1, 2008 may not continue to sell, solicit or negotiate long-term care insurance unless the individual has completed a one-time training course as set forth in Subsection B, within one year from the effective date of this Rule by or before July 1, 2009.
(3) In addition to the one-time training course required in Paragraphs (1) and (2) above, an individual who sells, solicits or negotiates long-term care insurance shall complete ongoing training as set forth in Subsection B. 26
(4) The training requirements of Subsection B may be approved as continuing education courses under Ark. Code Ann. §23-64-301 et seq.
B.. (1) The one-time training required by this Section shall be no less than eight (8) hours and the ongoing training required by this Section shall be no less than four (4) hours every 24 months.
(2) The training required under Paragraph (1) shall consist of topics related to long-term care insurance, long-term care services and the Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership program, which topics shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) State and federal regulations and requirements and the relationship between qualified state long-term care insurance Partnership programs and other public and private coverage of long-term care services, including Medicaid;
(b) Available long-term services and providers;
(c) Changes or improvements in long-term care services or providers;
(d) Alternatives to the purchase of private long-term care insurance;
(e) The effect of inflation on benefits and the importance of inflation protection; and
(f) Consumer suitability standards and guidelines.
(3) The training required by this Section shall also include training outlining state Medicaid and Long-Term Care Partnership requirements (refer to the Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership Agent Training Guidelines as maintained by the Arkansas Insurance Department on its Website or otherwise).
(4) The training required by this Section shall not include training that is insurer or company product specific or that includes any sales or marketing information, materials, or training, other than those required by state or federal law.
C. (1) Insurers subject to this Rule shall obtain verification that a producer receives training required by Subsection A before a producer is permitted to sell, solicit or negotiate the insurer’s long-term care insurance products, maintain records subject to the state’s record retention requirements, and make that verification available to the Commissioner upon request.
(2) Insurers subject to this Rule shall maintain records with respect to the training of its producers concerning its Partnership policies that will 27 allow the state insurance department to provide assurance to the state Medicaid agency that producers have received the training contained in Subsection B(2)(a) as required by Subsection A and that producers have demonstrated an understanding of the Partnership policies and their relationship to public and private coverage of long-term care, including Medicaid, in this state. These records shall be maintained in accordance with the state’s record retention requirements and shall be made available to the Commissioner upon request.
D. The satisfaction of these training requirements in any state shall be deemed to satisfy the training requirements in this state.
