Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday announced a new plan that would provide Medicare benefits to help pay for in-home long-term care for the elderly and disabled. Announcing the plan on ABC’s daytime talk show. the viewHarris said the plan would not only ease the burden of care for the so-called “sandwich generation,” which makes up nearly a quarter of all Americans, but would also help people avoid the exorbitant costs of nursing homes and assisted living.
“There are too many people in our country who are in the middle. They are caring for their children and elderly parents, and it is almost impossible to do it all. This is especially true if you are working. “We found that too many people were having to quit their jobs,” Harris said. That means losing a source of income, not to mention the emotional stress.” According to the Harris campaign, more than 67 million people have Medicare coverage, and about 4 million enroll each year. 105 million Americans. I am working as a caregiver for a loved one.
If realized, Harris’s plan could be particularly revolutionary for women, who have repeatedly been shown to do most of the care work at home. For example, in 2020, women made up more than 60% of caregivers of adults or children with disabilities, according to a report released by the Commonwealth Fund earlier this year. According to the report, 26% of American women say they play a caregiver role in their families, compared to only 22% of American men.
Harris did not provide specific details about the plan or an estimated cost. But let me tell you the viewHarris said the plan would be funded by allowing Medicare “to continue negotiating drug prices with these big pharmaceutical companies.” That means money saved from the Biden administration’s landmark deal will be used to fund senior care. A senior campaign official said the plan would be funded by measures such as increasing discounts guaranteed by drug manufacturers for certain brand-name drugs in Medicare and cracking down on hidden costs from pharmacy benefit managers. A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Brookings Institution found that such a plan would cost about $40 billion annually.
On the campaign trail, Harris She spoke about caring for her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, after she was diagnosed with cancer (she died in 2009), a point the Vice President reiterated during her appearance. the view.
“I know that care is about dignity.” harris said Tuesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris explains Medicare’s proposal to cover home health care for seniors: "It’s about the independence of that individual." pic.twitter.com/09Lkz9DXQl
— The View (@TheView) October 8, 2024
appearance It’s part of Harris’ week-long media blitz. 60 minutes Appeared in an interview and podcast that aired Monday night on CBS. call dad. Democratic presidential candidate also appears the howard stern show and late show With Stephen Colbert.
A stark contrast to her counterpart. Trump, on the other hand, gave up his rights. 60 minutes I invited and ranted about Harris’ interview on Truth Social. Oh, and he has repeatedly discussed the Medicare cuts recommended in Project 2025, the extremist guidebook to a second Trump term.
Updated October 8: This post has been updated with statistics on the role of American women in caregiving.
