October 08, 2024

Retirees Praise Harris’ New Medicare Home Care Plan for Seniors

The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding Vice President Kamala Harris’ proposed new home care benefit for seniors:

“Vice President Harris’ home care plan is exactly what millions of American seniors and their families need.

“We know that seniors have better health outcomes when they can age in their own homes, and this plan will make that option more affordable. It also addresses the caregiver shortage and raises wages for the people who do this critical work. A stable workforce is essential for quality care.

“The Harris plan is fiscally sound. It is paid for by lowering drug prices, including requiring Medicare to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceutical corporations for additional drugs. The more we can rein in the price of drugs, the more Medicare can invest in new coverage for seniors.

“More than 40% of Americans, more than 105 million people, currently provide unpaid care for a family member. Family caregivers clearly need help as they try to juggle careers, raise children and go about their everyday lives.

“Today’s announcement is another reason that the Alliance for Retired Americans has endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket. There are dozens of critical differences between the Harris-Walz ticket and the Trump-Vance ticket on issues affecting older Americans, and many of them are spelled out here.”

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Contact: David Blank,  dblank@retiredamericans.org