Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced three bills that aim to help seniors fund long term care. Two seek to improve long-term care insurance policies and one creates an income tax credit for eldercare expenses.
The three bills are still in committee, but Senator Klobuchar hopes these bills will help Americans plan for long-term care and receive the care they deserve. “Seniors deserve high-quality long-term care that works for them and their families,” said Klobuchar. “These bills will help ensure that long-term care programs are easy to navigate and make it easier for families to care for their loved ones.”
Legislation that Aims to Help Seniors Fund Long-Term Care:
- S. 3226, Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act, was introduced with Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and would establish a federal tax credit for elder care expenses generated by a family caregiver. The bill would help family members receive a tax credit of up to $1,200 a year. The bill would also increase funding for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which is included in the Older Americans Act.
- S. 3229, The Long-Term Care Insurance Consumer Right-to-Know Act, was introduced with Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) and aims to help consumers understand their long term care insurance policies. The bill would require a short disclosure form to be used when marketing long-term care insurance policies. The form would be developed by a working group of long-term care providers, consumer advocates, insurance providers, and others.
- S.3230, Long Term Care Insurance Integrity Act of 2012, would develop a third-party review process for processing disputed long term care insurance claims. The bill is designed to resolve disputes expeditiously but would also allow enrollees to appeal the decision of the independent reviewer to the appropriate State court.
Read Senator Klobuchar’s news release about the bills or read the full bill text for S.3226, S.3229, and S.3230.
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