U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is photographed in the ABC studios during a break during a taping of the show “The View” on October 8, 2024 in New York.
Charlie Tribalew | AFP | Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris announced a new proposal Tuesday that would make Medicare pay for home long-term care.
This coverage could allow millions of elderly and disabled people to receive care at home instead of in nursing homes.
more 37 million people, According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14% of the adult population in the United States provides some form of unpaid elder care. The majority of these caretakers, approximately 59%, are women.
Harris’ universal home care proposal would require action from Congress. But it could provide unprecedented relief for Americans who are currently caring for family members. The vice president noted that her plan could be particularly beneficial for people caring for both elderly parents and their children.
“It’s almost impossible to do everything, especially [caregivers] “We’re finding that so many people are being forced to quit their jobs, not to mention the emotional stress,” Harris said when first explaining the plan on ABC’s “The View.” “It means losing a source of income,” he said. ”
Tricia Newman, KFF’s executive vice president and executive director of Medicare policy programs, said Harris’ proposal is historic.
“It’s been many years, decades since a presidential candidate proposed a Medicare plan to help middle-income families deal with the overwhelming cost of home health care,” Newman said.
Currently, Medicare typically does not cover long-term care services in the home. Medicaid is the main source of public support for this care, but families must demonstrate very low income to qualify. Coverage and eligibility also vary widely by state.
“This leaves many middle-income families struggling with the cost of caring for an aging parent or grandparent,” Newman said.
The cost of providing home care services is significant. KFF estimates that paying a professional live-in home health aide, for example, can cost more than $288,000 a year.
Harris’ plan could cost about $40 billion a year. According to According to one estimate by the Brookings Institution. Mr Harris said it would be paid for with money the government was saving from new powers to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers.
“We’re not going to pay these high prices, so we’re going to save Medicare money,” Harris said.
On “The View,” Harris spoke about caring for her mother, who was battling cancer at the time.
“This is a very personal experience for me and one that I hold very dear,” Harris said. her mother is cancer researcherpassed away in 2009 at the age of 70.
In addition to improving the lives of caregivers, the vice president said expanding coverage could also improve the lives of older people.
“It’s about that individual’s dignity and that individual’s independence,” she says.
More than two-thirds of adults over 50 want to stay in their home for an extended period of time. According to Find out from AARP.
Mr. Newman suggested that Ms. Harris’ policy is a wise move in the final stages of a very close presidential campaign against former President Donald Trump.
“This is an issue that resonates with the public because it affects families regardless of their political leanings,” she said.
