Addressing long-term care

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Millions of Americans are experiencing age-related disabilities without adequate insurance for long-term care, a fact that is placing financial burdens on their children.

Millions of other American adults also have permanent disabilities and lack adequate insurance to pay for the assistance they will need for the rest of their lives. The assistance includes physical therapy, full- or part-time care at home and full-time care at assisted living or skilled nursing facilities.

Existing federal programs addressing long-term care have long been criticized. Some do not properly compensate for multiple disabilities. And Medicaid, the main government program for long-term care, has strict income eligibility requirements. Many people turn down jobs and live sparingly so they can remain in the Medicaid program.

To address the shortcomings, Sen. Edward Kennedy two years ago introduced the Community Living Assistance Services and Support, or CLASS, Act. It languished, but because of the Obama administration’s interest in reforming health care, Kennedy reintroduced the bill in March.

Now it has gained approval from two congressional committees and has received support from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The legislation is not intended to provide 100 percent coverage. Rather, it would provide payments that could spare many people from the strictures of Medicaid and help close the funding gap between private coverage and the cost of care.

The insurance would be an option for working people and their spouses who are 18 or older. Premiums of $60 to $100 a month (less for younger participants) would be paid largely through payroll deductions. Participants would have to pay the premiums for five years before they could be eligible for the coverage, which would provide disabled people with $50 to $75 a day. The program would not bar those with preexisting conditions.

Our view is that the CLASS Act or legislation similar to it is badly needed. It is time to start paying better attention to long-term care.