How Harris’s Medicare Plan Could Make At-Home Care for Older Adults Easier

image via New Scientist

October 29, 2024, 10:45 AM

Vice President Kamala Harris recently proposed a Medicare plan that would cover at-home health aides and other long-term care services, which could provide much needed relief to older adults and caregivers. Harris's new proposal, called the Medicare at Home plan, emphasizes supporting these members in the so-called sandwich generation—people who care for both young and aging family members. If it passes, at-home aides who provide support for day-to-day activities, such as bathing, cooking and using the bathroom, would be covered for the first time ever by Medicare. The proposal also maps out avenues to improve wages for professional care workers, expand access to remote technologies and telehealth services and cover hearing and vision needs, including hearing aids and eyeglasses. Based on the eligibility criteria of similar proposals, Harris's plan could potentially help more than 14.7 million of the 67 million people enrolled in Medicare, as well as countless caregivers—but it rides on the results of the upcoming U.S. presidential election and on crucial negotiations across branches of the federal government.

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