New law may finally spur long-term care insurance.

The aging of the American population and President Clinton's recent signing of the Health Insurance and Portability Act could set the stage for a surge in growth of long-term care insurance.

But before that happens, local observers say, corporations will have to be sold on the advantages of offering another benefit to their workers.

Brenda Pflaum, a consultant in the Cleveland office of the international management consulting firm Watson Wyatt, said companies have been slow to offer long-term care insurance, which covers health care expenses such as assisted livin