Traditional Medicare assistance with at home long term care

ImMaggieMae

Finally a major candidate is talking about long term care being covered by Medicare for people other than those covered only by Medicaid. I heard Harris talking about it on The View earlier today and now it’s being talked about on several news broadcasts. If only…

https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2024/10/08/harris-would-create-a-new-medicare-benefit-for-long-term-care/

trottingalong

I read about this. Wouldn’t it be nice to be recognized.

LindaLouise

Very stunning to see this becoming part of the policy conversations. What a miracle this would be if it were to happen for those covered by Medicare! Thanks so much for sharing this news. I'll find time to write to my reps on this topic yet again - you've inspired me!

ImMaggieMae

It looks like many news outlets have picked up on her proposal. The idea of Medicare being able to negotiate all pharmaceutical prices like other countries do might save enough to finance at least a good part of a program like this. At least the idea is out there now and people are talking about it, other than only people like us. I never dreamed the cost of home caregiving assistance and the lack of insurance coverage until my DH was in this position. It’s like we are finally being heard.

M1

Great to hear it discussed. Actually getting it passed and financed will be another matter....

M1

here are financial figures the Washington Post quoted today in an editorial. Cost has sunk similar proposals going all the way back to the establishment of Medicare in the sixties.

“KFF, a nongovernmental organization that tracks health trends, reports that “in 2023, the median annual costs of care in the U.S. were $62,400 for full-time homemaker services … $68,640 for full-time home health aide care … and $288,288 for round-the-clock home health aide services.”

lenbury

It is great to hear it discussed -- that is refreshing but getting a divided congress to pass it and figure out how to pay for it will be a challenge -- baby steps.

Quilting brings calm

never mind. Misunderstood the proposed benefit.

sherryandwilliam

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/70866/traditional-medicare-assistance-with-at-home-long-term-care

I was so excited to see this. It is hard to believe it has not already been implemented with the baby boomer generation aging now there are so many that need this. I don't know if it will end up helping us if this happens but at least future generations. The financial burden being relieved would be a big deal! So we could just concentrate on the care our loved ones need.

sherryandwilliam

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/225225#Comment_225225

I completely agree

M1

The public will is not there in the US to pay the taxes that would be required to fund this. Do the math.....we can't even fund the current Medicare and Social Security safety nets. yes it would be nice, but I don't think you realize what you're asking for.

sherryandwilliam

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/225383#Comment_225383

Thank you. I remain hopeful to get some long term care with medicare.

Quilting brings calm

I respect every single member of this forum. No matter their politics. Can I get agreement from all of you? Let’s make this a politics free zone

Caro_Lynne

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/225425#Comment_225425

Amen Quilting xo

trottingalong

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/225425#Comment_225425

100%. This thread depressed me. The original post is what all of us would like to see. It should have been left at that.

howdoidothis

I’m disappointed that so many people on this forum who could benefit from this idea are slamming it simply because it didn’t come from the candidate you support. That is only tribalism. Work against your own interests if it pleases you, but there are families out there who need this and wouldn’t care which color jersey was being worn by the team who accomplished it.

M1

Agree completely with keeping politics out of it. My point was that I don’t think the American public is ready to fund this, regardless of party. Would love to be wrong, but the cost would be staggering. I haven’t seen a funding mechanism proposed that could get passed.

LindaLouise

I think we all need to encourage our representatives from all parties to consider this idea of Medicare helping out with Alzheimer's! How powerful we can be as a group that crosses party lines and works together to get what we and all those who will join or ranks in the future, need. I know we all can get discouraged at the financial burden and think there is no way out, but maybe there is! There is no other diagnosed illness that I know of - and there may very well be, so I apologize in advance for whatever illness I'm leaving out! - that requires the patient pay full freight for a needed "treatment". Cancer, heart ailments, kidney disease, etc. - if you have one of those, Medicare will help out with the needed treatments. Alzheimer's? At this time, you will get no help from Medicare for the supervision, surveillance, help with ADLs, nighttime supervision, etc. that are necessary for a person with Alzheimer's to live safely and without endangering themselves or their families. I get that an Alzheimer's diagnoses can include those who don't need this help yet - but surely our doctor's could help identify, for Medicare purposes, those in the later stages who clearly need help. Families should not have to go into poverty (in some states) in order to care properly for their PWD. Can you imagine if someone with cancer was required to spend down all their assets before Medicare (at that point, Medicaid) would pay? It is just wrong that an Alzheimer's diagnoses in treated to differently from any other disease!