Harris Proposes Medicare Coverage For Senior Home Care
On October 8, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a plan that would necessitate Medicare to cover the cost of long-term home care. Harris made this announcement on ABC’s “The View” with the election only 27 days away.
Harris's Plan to Support Caregivers
Harris expressed her concern about caregivers who struggle to balance their lives, especially when they are working while also needing to care for their aging parent and their children. She noted that many caregivers are forced to leave their jobs, thus losing a source of income, and dealing with emotional stress.
According to a 2023 study published in the medical journal Epidemiologia, almost one in five Americans over the age of 65 require assistance with basic daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. Medicare generally does not cover home health care services. Medicaid offers a long-term care safety net but to qualify for coverage, people must meet state-specific eligibility requirements regarding their income, wealth, and functional limitations.
The Impact of the Proposed Plan
An estimated 105 million people provide unpaid care across the country. Harris's plan would require Medicare to provide better wages to care workers and improve the quality of care for seniors and those with disabilities. However, any plan would need Congressional approval to take effect. It is uncertain how much her home care proposal will add to the national debt.
In response to Harris’s announcement, the Trump campaign highlighted his plan to remove tax on seniors’ social security and other measures for seniors receiving at-home care. The campaign stated that Trump will prioritize home care benefits by shifting resources back to at-home senior care, overturning disincentives that lead to care worker shortages, and supporting unpaid family caregivers through tax credits and reduced red tape.
Harris's Economic Plan
During an interview with CBS' “60 Minutes” on Oct. 7, Harris faced several questions regarding the funding of her economic plan, which included the expansion of the child tax credit. In September, Harris announced new economic proposals, including permanent restoration of the COVID-19-era increase in the Child Tax Credit to as high as $3,600 per child up from $2,000 currently, and a $6,000 one-time tax cut for families with newborns.
According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the vice president’s previous proposals were projected to raise the debt by $3.5 trillion over the next decade. Harris maintained her position that she would increase taxes on the wealthy. When questioned about Congress’s lack of willingness to raise taxes and how she would achieve consensus on the matter, Harris disagreed and said there are “a lot of folks in Congress” who agreed with her plans to raise taxes.
Bottom Line
Vice President Kamala Harris's proposal to require Medicare to cover the cost of long-term home care raises several questions about the feasibility and impact of such a plan. It also brings to light the challenges faced by caregivers and the need for better support systems. What are your thoughts on this proposal? Do you think it will have a positive impact on caregivers and seniors? Share your thoughts and this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing which is everyday at 6pm.
