Harris proposes new Medicare benefit for senior care
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Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally on Oct. 4 in Flint, Michigan. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris laid out a new proposal to help families care for seniors during a Tuesday appearance on ABC's "The View."
Why it matters: The policy is aimed at alleviating some of the financial burden on "sandwich generation" Americans who are caring for both young children and aging parents.
The big picture: Harris' plan is to expand Medicare coverage to cover at-home care for seniors, enabling families to afford services like in-home health aides, according to a senior Harris campaign official.
- The plan could help families avoid expensive senior facilities that can cost more than in-home care.
- Savings from medicare drug price negotiations will help pay for the plan, as will increasing the discounts drug manufacturers cover for certain brand-name drugs for Medicare enrollees.
Zoom in: About 47% of U.S. adults in their 40s and 50s are juggling caring for both elderly parents and young children, according to the Pew Research Center.
- According to the Harris campaign official, the sandwich generation contains a large portion of undecided voters.
State of play: Harris has previously spoken about her own experiences caring for her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, when she was sick with cancer.
- "I have a personal experience with caregiving. I remember being there for my mother when she was diagnosed with cancer. Cooking meals for her, taking her to her appointments .... I know caregiving is about dignity," she said at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh last month.
- Harris recounted those experiences on "The View" and spoke about the financial and emotional difficulties placed on members of the "sandwich generation."
- The plan also addresses the "dignity" and "independence" of seniors who want to stay in their home, she added.
Zoom out: America is facing a looming senior care crisis, with nearly 70% of older adults projected to need long-term care services that are hard to come by, let alone pay for.
Go deeper: Aging America faces a senior care crisis
Editor's note: This story was updated to include more comments from Harris.
