| Have You Heard of The CLASS Act? | | | | A nursing home can cost well over $100 a day so |
| The CLASS act is not an old movie or a book | | | | this new bill is just part of the picture. It would |
| about rules for good behavior. Instead it is a | | | | help, but not totally keep us from needing to rely |
| provision of health reform, that is voluntary, and | | | | upon other assets, long term care insurance or |
| may help some families make nursing care more | | | | government aid. |
| affordable. | | | | Is There Already Government Help To Pay For |
| CLASS stands for Community Living Assistance | | | | Nursing Care? |
| Services and Supports. It is a pat of the new | | | | Note that Medicare, the federal health insurance |
| health reform bill. It was passed by the US | | | | program for seniors and disabled people, does not |
| Senate and House of Representatives. Workers | | | | pay for long term nursing care today. It only pays |
| will be enrolled in this program, but may choose to | | | | for short term stays. Medicaid, the federal heath |
| decline it at any time according to the wording in | | | | insurance for the poor, only starts to pay after a |
| the bill. | | | | person has almost exhausted their other assets. |
| What Does the CLASS Act Do? | | | | Many people confuse Medicare and Medicaid. They |
| - It is a voluntary program. Employers will be | | | | do have similar names, but are very different |
| required to deduct premiums, but employees can | | | | programs. Some people are on both Medicare and |
| opt out of this program if they choose to. | | | | Medicaid, but they are on them for different |
| - Premiums have not been determined yet. It is | | | | reasons. Medicare is for seniors and disabled |
| believed they will be lower tor people with low | | | | people. Medicaid is for people with low assets and |
| incomes, but.that average workers can expect to | | | | incomes. |
| pay about $120 a month | | | | What About Private Long Term Care Insurance |
| - If people under the program become disabled, it | | | | Policies? |
| will pay about $50 a day for nursing care. Note | | | | Again, even if a worker opts into the health |
| that these people do not have to be over 65 | | | | reform plan, they cannot rely on $50 a day to |
| years old. | | | | fully pay for nursing home care. In fact, it may |
| - The nursing care could be from a nursing home, | | | | pay 30 - 50 percent of it. The other $50 - $100 a |
| but it could also be in-home care, such as a home | | | | day would have to come from another source. |
| health aide, adult day care or assisted living. So it | | | | This could be a private or group nursing home |
| pays for nursing homes or alternatives. | | | | insurance policy, assets, or Medicaid. |
| - The plan premiums are set to be adjusted at a | | | | This part of the plan has not been implemented |
| rate that will keep it solvent without any federal | | | | yet. I also understand that there will be a waiting |
| funds. | | | | period, so nobody can sign up for the plan a few |
| - The CLASS act is NOT A TAX. It is voluntary. | | | | days before they need it. The benefits of this |
| Will This Health Reform Measure Help? | | | | part of health reform are not going to affect us |
| There is no doubt that nursing care is expensive, | | | | in the next few years, but may help younger |
| and that most of us faced a high chance of | | | | people with their retirement planning. |
| needing long term care at some point in our lives. | | | | |