What’s Next After Class Act’s Repeal?

By Author: Katherine Roberts
Total Articles: 28
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Older Americans admitted that the cancellation of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act) had a strong impact on them because they were already hoping for a future with health care. Now they’re back to square one.

That did not come as a surprise since the said voluntary long term care insurance program was primarily designed for the uninsured elderly and disabled folks who are at risk of facing unaffordable long term care (LTC). Many uninsured individuals moving towards the age of 65 or 70 were looking forward to paying low monthly premiums in exchange for a daily benefit of $50 should they qualify for LTC in the future.

Unfortunately, somebody had to burst their balloon just like that.

According to Kathleen Sebelius, health and human services secretary, the reason that the administration had to end the said long term care insurance program for the time being is the fact that it couldn’t find a way to make it work.

Republicans are taking advantage of what the Secretary said. After all, they never expressed support for the said program since its enactment. ...
... Meanwhile, supporters said there could’ve been many ways to make the program work and that its demise just came too soon.

Those ways, however, have to be clearly defined first because from the perspective of the Department of Health and Human Services, anybody who will join the program during its unripe stage will only be at risk of paying a higher premium later on, and this would be going against its objective. At present, the program seems to be attractive only to individuals who will require a higher level of care anytime soon.

If enrollment to the Act will proceed in 2013, there’s actually a foresight that majority of the enrollees will be those with pre-existing conditions or in the critical stage of an illness. Should this be the case, the program will not turn out effective as it won’t manage to pay qualifying members’ claim for their $50 daily benefit.

Does CLASS Act Deserve One More Look?

For some people like Robert Yee, the chief actuary for the Act who was sacked a month before Sec. Sebelius announced the cancellation of the program, the Congress has to edit only certain areas of the law because it is still workable.

However, there’s also a multitude of Americans who don’t believe that the program was built for the people’s welfare. According to them, it’s all about numbers so there’s no point fussing over it.

Every person in the country has his personal opinion on the matter which may agree or disagree with others. The only constant thing in this issue is long term care which everybody will eventually need it at some point.

Although Sec. Sebelius said the administration bears the goal of providing long term care for every single American, just take this as a long shot or preferably a punch to the moon until seen. After the demise of CLASS Act everybody should realize the importance of having a personal plan. Whatever comes along afterwards will just serve as bonus for responsible folks like you.

We shop from all the major private carriers and give you free long term care quote. We also offer all the important information and updates about CLASS act.