Vice President Kamala Harris announced a proposal to expand Medicare coverage to include home health care, vision and hearing benefits. This plan aims to address the growing need for affordable home care, particularly for the “sandwich generation” who care for both children and elderly parents.
Harris highlighted the importance of dignity and independence for people receiving care, drawing on her personal experience caring for her mother. The proposal seeks to fill a significant gap in Medicare coverage, as current benefits for home health services are limited to short-term recovery periods following acute medical events.
Although Medicaid covers in-home care for low-income people, eligibility requirements and waiting lists pose significant barriers. The Harris plan aims to provide a more accessible and comprehensive solution by leveraging savings from Medicare drug price negotiations to fund expanded benefits.
The cost of the proposal remains uncertain, with experts predicting potentially high expenses. The plan also calls for expanding Medicare to cover vision and hearing benefits, filling a long-standing gap in coverage of essential services for older Americans.
Trump's campaign has said the Republican platform includes support for in-home senior care, focusing on resource allocation, addressing the shortage of caregivers and supporting family caregivers through tax credits and reducing red tape.
This proposal responds to the growing demand for affordable home care as the population ages and the number of people requiring long-term care grows. The feasibility and cost of the plan will be key factors in its potential implementation.
