Kamala Harris Plan to Expand Medicare for Home Care Services

Expansion of Medicare to Include Home Care Services Unveiled

In a significant move to address the caregiving challenges faced by American families, Vice President Kamala Harris has announced a plan to broaden Medicare's coverage to encompass home healthcare services. This initiative is particularly relevant for workers in the care economy, such as child care providers and home care workers, who have long advocated for increased support and resources in this sector.

The Biden-Harris administration has previously made strides with the American Rescue Plan, channeling a historic $60 billion investment into the care economy. However, the need for further action remains evident.

Harris's proposal, revealed on the television program "The View", seeks to assist the "sandwich generation." This demographic includes nearly one-fourth of adults, notably those in their 40s, who simultaneously support aging parents and their own children or adult children financially.

Reflecting on her personal experiences, Harris shared, “I took care of my mother when she was sick. She was diagnosed with cancer. So, it is a personal experience for me as well as something I care deeply about.”

According to Harris's campaign fact sheet, the expanded Medicare benefits would cover home care for seniors and individuals with disabilities, along with vision and hearing services to promote independent living. The financing for these enhancements will stem from expanded Medicare drug price negotiations, which have already reduced insulin costs to $35 for seniors. Additional funding will be sourced through increased discounts on certain brand-name medications and efforts to eliminate Medicare fraud.

“It’s about dignity for that individual,” Harris emphasized. “It’s about independence for that individual. People are of declining skills to some extent, but their dignity and their pride has not declined.”

This initiative is expected to enable family caregivers to remain employed while reducing expenses for both families and the government by facilitating in-home care rather than nursing home placements. Additionally, it aims to improve wages and conditions for care workers, enhancing the quality of care provided to the elderly and disabled.

As articulated by Harris's campaign, “This initiative will provide care workers access to better wages, improve quality of care for seniors and those with disabilities, and treat our seniors with the dignity they deserve.”