House health care legislation expected within days is likely to include a new long-term care insurance program to help seniors and disabled people stay out of nursing homes, senior Democrats say.
The voluntary program would begin to close a gap in the social safety net overlooked in the broader health care debate, but it must overcome objections from insurance companies that sell long-term care coverage and from fiscal conservatives.
"I'm pretty confident that it will be in there," Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., a leading sponsor, said of the provision.
More than 10 million people currently need long-term care services, a number that's only expected to grow as the baby boom generation ages. But most families whose elders can no longer care for themselves have to scrape to find a solution.
The cost of nursing homes averages $70,000 a year, and a home care attendant runs about $29 an hour. Medicare only covers temporary nursing home stays. Middle-class households have to go through their savings before an elder can qualify for nursing home coverage through Medicaid.
The new proposal is called the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, or CLASS Act, and passing it was a top priority for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
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House Bill Likely to Include Long-Term Health Care
This is a good article that lays out the cost of home care v nursing facilities.
ReplyDeleteThat's something that can be measured. What isn't measured here is the savings because the person is at home rather than subjected to an onslaught of viruses and germs in nursing facilities.
Here's the problem - whenever there is a trend for home care, everyone gets excited and thinks oh boy, and then the nursing home lobby gets to work and funding is pulled.
ReplyDeleteNursing homes aren't about to give up a cent of profit.
Home care is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteRelatives need to be paid to help take care of their elderly or disabled. Many caregivers have given up good paying jobs and are barely able to scrape by as they are taking care of their loved ones.
ReplyDeletePaying relatives is far cheaper than paying nursing facilities.