House May Add Long-Term Care. But don't count on it.

('scuse me, there's a hole in your safety net)

When is a safety net not a safety net? When it's not safe. Or a net. Or below you. Or anything. Because, just ask the insurance companies, it's a really bad idea.

What the heck am I ranting about? The idea of adding a new long-term care insurance program to the health reform legislation.

There was an article about it in yesterday's Dallas Morning News. Here are some excerpts:

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"More than 10 million people currently need long-term care services, and the number is expected to grow as the baby boom generation ages. But most families whose elders can no longer care for themselves have to scrape to find a solution ...

"The new proposal is called the Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act, or CLASS Act ... In return for modest monthly premiums while they are working, people would receive a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become disabled. The money could be used to pay a home care attendant, purchase equipment and supplies, make home improvements such as adding bathroom railings, or defray the costs of nursing home care.

"The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the program - financed by premiums - would be fiscally solvent over a 75-year period."

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Sounds pretty good, right? But wait. The insurance companies are, of course, arguing against it. Here's another section of the same article:

"Many people already believe Medicare is going to cover their long-term care needs, and as a result they don't plan," said White Cornman, a spokesperson for the American Council of Life Insurers. The proposal would only add to the false sense of security, he said.

Ok. Let me get this straight. People currently are not able to pay for long-term care because they don't plan for it. Plus there is no safety net in place, other than Medicaid, which requires you to sell everything you own and become impoverished before you can qualify. Which is a pretty hole-y safety net if you ask me.

So, a program that would provide a REAL safety net is a bad idea because it would make people think they have a safety net. Which - hellooooo - they WOULD.

Hey, insurance companies! How about, for the sake of our troops, you quit making things up?? I'm still waiting for any sign of a Class Act from you guys. Any sign at all.

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