Debate rages on over long-term care insurance

By: MacKenzie Kimball October 29th, 2009

Among the many provisions that Congress continues to dispute in working towards healthcare reform legislation is the idea of a government-run long-term care insurance program. Senate and House members form both sides of the aisle are questioning its actual value to the public, as well as its cost in the coming years, according to The Washington Post.

The program was included in late Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-MA) Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. In his plan, long-term care coverage would be available to all Americans, who would be automatically enrolled with the choice to opt out. The government would control premium costs and the extent of cash benefits, which become available to an individual after five years in the program. The ability to immediately begin collecting premiums with a delay in paying benefits made the plan extremely attractive from a budget standpoint, but concern looms over the program’s cost down the road.

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• MacKenzie Kimball

  

  MacKenzie Kimball is an Associate Editor in HCPro's long-term care division. She is the editor of the monthly newsletter PPS Alert for Long-Term Care and the MDS 3.0 Update e-newsletter.

  MacKenzie has written 84 posts.

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