Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

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Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senator Kennedy today in introducing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act--or the CLASS Act.

Unfortunately, most Americans are not prepared for the costs of long-term services and supports when they arise. High premiums have discouraged many Americans from purchasing long-term care insurance in the private market. Furthermore, underwriting practices have excluded individuals with existing disabilities from purchasing plans.

Right now, 10 million people suffer from severe functional impairments and by 2020 that number will have increased to 15 million. Therefore, in the next 15 years, we will experience a 50 percent growth in the number of persons with severe functional impairments. Some of those people will be struck suddenly--through accidents or sudden illness. And the reality is that any one of us here today could face sudden impairment and disability. We won't see it coming until it happens, and most of us will not be prepared to provide for necessary, long-term care needs.

Some people may end up with a degenerative disease, such as Parkinson's disease, which leads to increased impairments. They may know now what their needs will be, but are unable to purchase private insurance due to this pre-existing condition. Others will age and develop other physical or cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Although we know that age is inevitable, we are not properly preparing for this eventuality or the possibility of sudden accidents and many people are financially unable to purchase available insurance due to the high price. However, the fact remains that millions of Americans will need the services that the CLASS Act seeks to provide.

The CLASS Act will help Americans to remain independent in their communities by creating a new long-term care insurance program. This program will be available to all working Americans above the age of 18. For only $30 per individual each month, and a minimum of 20 quarters of payments, the CLASS Act will help those who do not have adequate long-term care insurance due to cost or current disability. This bill will allow people to choose the supports they need when and if they become severely impaired. It will help them remain independent. It will help them remain in their communities. It will help them remain with their families.

This is a good bill. I thank Senator Kennedy for his work on this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.

http://thomas.loc.gov/