KIRKLAND, Wash., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Texas Long-Term Care Partnership and the 3in4 Association are joining forces to host a series of free seminars in July to encourage people to think about how they're going to pay for their long-term care.

Studies show that nearly three out of four Americans will need some kind of long-term care, help with preparing meals, getting dressed or simply getting around, but most don't have a plan for how they'll pay for those services. People may need long-term care after a debilitating injury or illness, but the services aren't covered by typical health or disability insurance, or even Medicare.

The seminars will take place in conjunction with the "3in4 Need More" national bus tour, which will make stops in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio the week of July 16.

The 3in4 Association is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to increasing awareness about the need to plan for long-term care. The organization's bus tour features noted eldercare expert Dr. Marion Somers. During each Texas stop on the tour, "Dr. Marion" will host at least one of the free seminars.

"People think their health or disability insurance covers long-term care but it doesn't," Somers says. "These seminars are basically to let people know that there is a geriatric tsunami headed our way and if we don't start planning for our needs now, especially the younger people, we're going to be swamped. But there is something we can do about it. Planning now can save thousands of dollars and a lot of time and stress in the long run."

Along with the 3in4 Association, the Texas Long-Term Care Partnership is co-hosting the long-term care seminars in Texas. The partnership was created by the Texas Legislature to increase awareness about the importance of planning for long-term care. Partners include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance, and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The partnership's website, http://www.OwnYourFutureTexas.org, has information about long-term care and interactive tools to help develop a strategy for how to plan for those services.

The 3in4 Association provides a national LTC insurance specialist locator by ZIP code and cost of care calculators for the consumer at http://www.3in4NeedMore.com.

To see a list of dates, times, and locations for seminars in each city, or to sign up for one of them, visit http://www.3in4needmore.net/edu/texas.

Schedule for the free long-term care planning seminars:

* Austin: July 18 and 19, 2012

* San Antonio: July 19 and 20, 2012

* Houston: July 20 and 21, 2012

* Dallas/Fort Worth: July 21, 23, and 24, 2012   

IMAGES:

LOGO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0621-3in4needm_72dpi.jpg

Caption: "3 in 4 Need More" campaign logo.

PHOTO 72dpi: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0621-3in4tx_72dpi.jpg

Photo Caption: Noted long-term care advocate Dr. Marion Somers.

This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE 3in4 Association