Forum to discuss proposed Long-Term Care Insurance Rate hikes

AUGUSTA – The Maine Bureau of Insurance will hold a Public Forum March 3 to discuss proposed Genworth Long-Term Care Insurance Rate increases.

More than 3,000 Mainers are expected to be impacted by proposed increases ranging from 1.8 to 233 percent.

Maine Superintendent of Insurance Bob Carey has announced that the Bureau of Insurance will hold a public forum at 10 a.m. Monday, March 3 to discuss proposed rate increases sought by Genworth Life Insurance Company.

The forum is intended to provide affected Genworth policyholders with information on the long-term care insurance market, the rate approval process, and the reasons Genworth is seeking these increases.

Those who wish to attend the forum virtually or in person must preregister through a form on the Bureau's website at https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/news-public-notices/public-event-notices.

Participants may offer comments and ask questions about the proposed increases. Representatives from both Genworth and the Maine Bureau of Insurance will provide information and answer questions about the rate review process. Written comments as well as questions about registration should be directed to insurance.pfr@maine.gov.

The proposed rate increases range from 1.8 to 233 percent and affect 3,057 Maine policyholders across seven blocks of long-term care insurance. The largest block has 1,274 Maine policyholders and has a proposed increase of 233 percent.

Genworth's filings have been under review since early November 2024. Following the forum, the Bureau will complete its review and determine whether and how much of an increase is actuarially justified. In addition to Genworth's rate filing request, the Bureau will consider policyholders comments made at the forum and submitted in writing. If a rate increase is approved by the Bureau, policyholders will receive another notice from the company explaining the increase and any options available to policyholders to mitigate the increase.

Companies must give 90-days notice before the increase takes effect and may specify a timeframe in which reduced benefit options need to be selected.

"The Bureau will only approve rate increases that are actuarially justified," said Carey. We strive to maintain a competitive insurance market with solvent insurers that can pay claims, while also making sure premiums are affordable. At times it can be a difficult balancing act."

"Though some of these proposed rate increases are quite high, the Bureau generally requires insurers to provide policyholders with benefit change options, which may lessen the amount of the premium increase. Policyholders should keep in mind that they will receive an additional notice from the insurer with specific information about the approved rate change as well as the date it takes effect," Carey added.

To learn more about potential plan options that may assist with affording long-term care insurance, please consult the Bureaus Long-Term Care Rate Increases FAQs web page at https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/node/977.

For a general overview of long-term care insurance, please visit the Bureaus Long-Term Care Insurance web page at https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumers/long-term-care-insurance.

Consumers with questions about insurance matters can obtain information and assistance from the Maine Bureau of Insurance by visiting www.maine.gov/insurance, calling 800-300-5000 (TTY call Maine Relay 711), or by e-mailing Insurance.PFR@maine.gov. <

Now is the time to get your Valentine’s houseplant

By Kendra Raymond

Just as in many things, the availably of certain plants can be seasonal, temporary, or just plain difficult. Of course, everyone knows that you can’t buy bedding annuals in December, nor can you find many Norfolk pine during the summer. This is just how the greenhouse industry works – and consumers seem satisfied with this model.

A variegated Hoya Kerii, also known as the 
heart hoya or Valentine plant, takes in the
morning sun on a Raymond windowsill.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND

The heart hoya, officially known as Hoya Kerrii is one of those plants. When you see one, you can’t miss it – the waxy leaves are notably heart-shaped – a perfect gift for someone special during the Valentine’s season.

If you are lucky enough to encounter a heart hoya, it will likely be offered as a single heart-shaped leaf cutting planted in a pot. While this is perfectly viable, this is all that you will likely ever see.

A better choice might be the vine form of the plant, rooted as a stem cutting. This means that there is more than one leaf present, the plant is starting to vine, and there are the infamous “nodes.” If you want to have the plant grow and vine, you must have the nodes. Furthermore, the presence of the nodes allows you to take cuttings from your heart hoya to root and create new plants and Voila – Valentine’s gifts for all your family and friends.

Native to southeast Asia, the Hoya Kerrii is a succulent plant, so it thrives on neglect, especially infrequent watering. Let’s look at the culture of this easy-to-grow plant.

Light

The hoya thrives in bright direct sunlight for several hours a day in a south or west facing window. If you don’t have that kind of lighting available, perhaps consider purchasing a grow light.

Soil and Water

Your hoya will be happiest in a custom mixed soil that is light and fluffy. A mixture of potting soil, a bit of sand, and even some wood chips or vermiculite will help lighten up the growing medium. The plant will do best if it is allowed to dry out between waterings. In fact, it is best to wait for the leaves to appear less plump and even wrinkly. High humidity is favorable for your hoya, so placing the plant near a humidifier or spritzing it occasionally can be beneficial.

Propagation

The spruce.com website offers the following steps to grow additional plants:

Hoya Kerrii can be propagated using stem cuttings. You can either propagate Hoya Kerrii in water or in sphagnum moss. Both methods can be successful, but some people have more success with one medium over another.

Here is how you can propagate your Hoya Kerrii using water or sphagnum moss.

Take a stem cutting from a mature hoya kerrii using a pair of sharp pruning shears or scissors. Each cutting should have at least three nodes along the stem. The nodes are where the leaves and roots will grow from.

Remove the bottom one to two leaves from each cutting, so those nodes are left exposed. Ensure that each cutting has at least one leaf left at the top of the stem.

If you are using water, fill a small container with water and place the bottom of the cutting in the water, ensuring that the leaves on the stem remain above the surface. If you are using sphagnum moss, soak the moss in water for 10 minutes and then squeeze out the excess water. Add the moss into a container and gently pack it around the base of the cutting, ensuring the moss covers the nodes, but the leaves remain uncovered.

Place the cutting(s) in a location that receives bright, indirect light.

If you are using water, the water should be refreshed once a week. If you are using sphagnum moss, ensure that the moss remains moist and does not dry out

After a couple of weeks, small roots should begin to form. Wait until the roots are at least 1 to 2 inches long before planting the cuttings.

Pot the rooted cuttings in a well-draining potting mixture and water well. Keep the soil moist for the first couple of weeks to help the new roots acclimate to the soil. Return the potted cuttings to their previous location. They can be moved into a brighter spot to encourage more vigorous growth now that they are established but do so gradually to avoid burning the leaves.

Where can I get one?

Acquiring a Hoya Kerrii may be your greatest challenge. As a horticulturist myself, I am always on the lookout for this precious cargo. Oftentimes, single-leaf cuttings can be found at the local grocery or big box stores. This is probably not the best option, unless they happen to have one with a stem and multiple leaves.

Your best bet can be a local greenhouse that is open during the winter. Just make sure to call ahead to see if they are available. You may be to do some calling around to find one with the leaves and vine.

Another option is online shopping. There are several options available but keep an eye on whether you are buying a leaf or vine, reviews, and shipping costs.

Whichever way you choose to go, keep in mind that a healthy heart hoya vine will be a bit of an investment, with the average price ranging from $20 to $30 dollars. The investment though is well worth it considering the numerous plants you can eventually grow to sell or share with others. <

WHS students engage in dialogue during Yarmouth High School’s Civil Tea Club meeting

By Lorraine Glowczak

Five Windham High School students tackled complex and thought-provoking conversations with peers from five area high schools during a special event at Yarmouth High School on Friday, Jan. 31. Through open discussions, they embraced diverse perspectives, honed their listening skills, and felt inspired to take meaningful action based on their experiences.

Windham High senior Abigail Dumont, center, listens to
two students from other schools as they share thoughts
about hard topics at the Yarmouth High School Civil 
Tea gathering. Dumont and four other WHS students
who attended the event say they were inspired by the 
experience and plan to invite the Yarmouth High club
to WHS in the future.
PHOTO BY LORRAINE GLOWCZAK  

The students were invited by YHS’s Civil Tea Club, which extended the opportunity to schools involved in the Can We? Project. The Can We? initiative encourages civil dialogue, fosters empathy, and empowers young people to create positive change in their communities. By utilizing storytelling and compassionate communication, the project equips students with the skills needed to navigate challenging discussions and ensure that all voices are heard.

WHS students voluntarily participated in the Can We? Project, which has been running for three years.

When the invitation arrived from YHS, five dedicated WHS Can We? participants eagerly accepted, ready to engage in a respectful exchange of ideas and broaden their understanding of important social issues.

“I have been involved with the Can We? Project since it first came to Windham,” WHS junior Gemma Evans said. “I have always believed in the goal of the project, so seeing another extension of the project was an opportunity I couldn't miss.”

Evans said that the Civil Tea Club kept the general mood of the Can We? Project, but made it more intimate.

Jen Dumont, WHS Teacher and JMG Specialist, is the school’s Can We? Project Liaison. She said that the students share a passion for social justice and a strong desire to contribute to their communities. She is proud of her students' abilities to be respectful among any differing opinions.

“I wasn't concerned at all about challenges, such as strong disagreements or emotional reactions because over the past few years, facilitating the Can We? Project, I have consistently witnessed students come together and successfully navigate complex conversations with differing perspectives,” she said.

The students agreed, saying it was good to hear different opinions and to gain different perspectives.

“When one of my group members had a different opinion than I did, I listened intently, I did not get angry or interrupt, I just listened,” WHS Senior, Abigail Dumont said. “As the conversation went on, I circled back around to the topic and let him know why I felt the way that I did. I did not try to change his opinion.”

WHS junior Kendra Eubanks agreed, saying that she has never felt so respected from both sides of the political spectrum as she did at Yarmouth’s Civil Tea Club.

“It made me feel heard and accepted,” she said. “I wish America could come together and talk about their different point of views respectfully and hear the other side and not make it turn into an argument. I feel that all political sides were heard at the Civil Tea.”

Jen Dumont said that the intent is never to have anyone's perspective change, but rather to facilitate a deeper understanding of the topic, relying on active listening, candid and vulnerable sharing of personal story, and empathy.

WHS senior Brooklyn Boucher said she enjoys having tough conversations and explained how she does that.

“Instead of listening to respond, it's very important to just listen,” Boucher said. “Not everything needs a response. It was at first hard to hear people with different opinions than mine, but this experience has truly changed my way of thinking about politics, in the way of not always looking for a right or wrong but understanding that everyone has a reason to believe the things they do, and to hear that instead of belittling others. It can open your knowledge to both ends of issues. I really emphasize the saying “I hear you” because a simple agreement like “oh yea” or a head nod can be just brushed over, and sometimes it’s just nice to be told that every word you said was heard by someone in the group.”

Jen Dumont says that she couldn’t be prouder of her students for their participation.

“Every student reflected that the experience was tremendously powerful and impactful. As an educator, any opportunity I can provide students to engage in authentic, solution-oriented dialogue is critical for their personal growth and self-confidence. Seeing the students so inspired after an event is truly edifying, and it provides much hope and faith in regard to this next generation of leaders.” <