Public pressure is mounting on the government to help fund long-term care for millions of aging Americans. A recent poll of more than 1,500 adults by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that more than half surveyed said Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance should have a large responsibility in paying for the costs of long-term care.
Approximately 75% of adults polled were in favor of long-term care coverage through Medicare Advantage or supplemental insurance. Meanwhile, two-thirds supported a government-administered long-term care insurance program, government funding for in-home care to low-income seniors, or Social Security credit for providing care to a loved one.
The survey also found there was wide bipartisan support in Congress for tax breaks and paid family leave to help Americans pay for long-term care and support older family members in need of it.
Affordability issues
The survey follows on the heels of a NORC study released earlier this month that found 11 million middle-income seniors won’t be able to afford assisted living and won’t qualify for Medicaid-subsidized long-term care, possibly shifting more care to the home. The project director of that study, Caroline Pearson, told McKnight’s Home Care Daily Pulse a public-private approach to senior housing and care was imperative to help the advancing wave of older baby boomers age safely.
Senior service organizations have been sounding the battle cry for a national long-term care policy. LeadingAge has been urging Congress to funnel $2.4 billion into new affordable housing for seniors and pump an additional $150 billion into home- and community-based services that would allow older Americans to age in place.
Lawmaker interest
Momentum toward long-term care policy has begun building in Congress and in some states. The Long-term Care Affordability Act introduced last year in the Senate would allow Americans to use tax-exempt retirement plan distributions to pay for long-term care health insurance. Earlier this year, Washington state launched the Long-term Services and Supports Care Fund, which requires employers to collect $0.58 for every $100 of earnings to help fund long-term care for residents. The maximum lifetime benefit per worker is $36,500.
