Part of the healthcare reform law many Americans are not aware of yet is the voluntary option to purchase long term care insurance from the federal government starting next year, with monthly deductions starting in 2012. The program’s name is, “The Class Act,” and The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that monthly premiums will be around $240.00. Word of the program never got to the press because most lawmakers were not aware of it, the ability to read the final bill was not an option until the very end.
It is quite possible that employees may be automatically enrolled in this program and should be made aware of the fact that it is a voluntary program. The program will pay roughly $75 a day to enrollees needing assistance bathing, eating, etc., after meeting a five year vesting period. According to a CBO analysis of the bill, “the program will add to future federal budget deficits in a large and growing fashion.”
This program is another step toward a single payer health insurance system in my opinion. Private insurers do not subsidize the true cost of care, but certainly the federal government will as reflected in the CBO report. This is another entitlement program. Once enrollees start to use it they will not want to lose it, just like the financially broke Medicare program. No one disagrees with the fact that everyone should have long term care insurance in Arizona, but the federal government should not be in the business of selling it.
If you have questions or comments I may be reached at: www.higginscompanies.com, 602.405.8769