CLASS Act will provide assistance seniors deserve
By Edward M. Kennedy
I have always been a firm believer that one of the true measures of any society, as Arnold Toynbee said, is “the respect and care given its elderly citizens.” Major progress has been made, particularly since the enactment of Medicare in 1965, but there is still much more that needs to be done to see that all seniors, regardless of income, receive the care they deserve. In that spirit, I have reintroduced the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act in this Congress. Long-term services and supports for seniors are increasingly important, as the baby boom generation reaches retirement age. It is estimated that nearly 15 million Americans will require such assistance by the year 2020. I’ve been blessed with parents who lived into old age. My mother lived to be 105, my father lived to be 81. Fortunately, we were able to care for them at home with excellent medical and nursing care, and helping to meet the needs of all seniors is something that has been front and center in my work in the Senate.
Despite the great need, long-term services and supports are often unaffordable for many seniors, especially those with disabilities. Frequently, they are compelled to make difficult decisions on how to pay for their long-term live in poverty in order to qualify for Medicaid to assist in paying the costs of care. For Americans who have worked all their lives and now require care, this practice of forced “spending-down” is counter to the American Dream.
The CLASS Act offers hope and opportunity for many Americans. Under it, workers would have the option of withholding a portion of their payroll for placement in a “National Independence Fund,” an insurance program that would assist individuals if they face a disability. They would be able to remain independent, regardless of their disability. The legislation would also remove other barriers that exist in acquiring long-term services and supports, and would eliminate the need for any individual to go into poverty to receive financial assistance. The bill would also produce cost-savings for the states, by offsetting the costs to Medicaid. Overall, the CLASS Act is needed legislation that has the potential to assist millions of Americans. The bill does not discriminate against the type of disability a person has, and concentrates solely on the unacceptable financial burden that long-term services and support can place on a family. No senior citizens should be forced to decide between their independence and their long-term needs.
We all understand and recognize the importance of caring for the nation’s seniors. I know, for example, that thousands of seniors in the Berkshires and throughout Western Massachusetts benefit everyday from the program known as Meals on Wheels, the program I sponsored in 1971 to deliver meals to the elderly in their homes or in group settings. I’m very proud of that program, and very proud of all that Elder Services of Berkshire County has done so well to fulfill its noble mission.
Our seniors have contributed so much to our community, and they deserve the very best from us. I hope that the Congress will pass the CLASS Act this year so that we can take an important new step toward providing seniors across America with the care they so eminently deserve. I’m sure that Elder Services of Berkshire County will continue to lead the way.
Edward M. Kennedy is Massachusetts' senior Senator. To contact him, call 1-877-472-9014 1-202-224-4543 or visit his website, http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm.
