WASHINGTON--Lawmakers in the House and Senate introduced legislation earlier this month that would create an insurance program for adults who become functionally disabled.
"The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2007" bills (S. 1758 and H.R. 3001) were introduced July 10 by Sens. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Tom Harkin D-Iowa, and Reps. John Dingell, D-Mich., and Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J. The measure would provide a cash benefit to help people with functional impairments pay for services and supports that they need to maximize their independence and give them more choices about community participation, education and employment.
The insurance program would be financed by voluntary payroll deductions of $30 per month and would provide benefits to adults who become severely functionally impaired. All working adults would be enrolled in the program automatically unless they decided to opt out. To qualify for the benefits, individuals would have to be at least 18 years old and have contributed to the program for at least five years.
"Too many Americans are perfectly capable of living a life in the community, but are denied the supports they need," Kennedy said.
There would be two benefit tiers under the program. Tier 1 benefits--$50 per day--would be payable to people who have two or more impairments in dealing with activities of daily living. Tier 2 benefits--$100 per day--would be payable to those who have four or more impairments on ADLs.
The benefit payment would be posted to a debit account each month. People who didn't use the full monthly amount would be able to roll it over from month to month, but not year to year. Once a person becomes ineligible for CLASS benefits, the payments would end. If an eligible individual chose to move into an institution, the benefits would be used to settle those expenses.
"As America continues to age, we are faced with an impending crisis in long-term care," Pallone said. "Today, we offer a new approach that builds upon our existing safety net system and helps our elderly and disabled finance the long-term care they need to remain active and productive members of their communities."
The text of the bills should be available soon at http://thomas.loc.gov.
