On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Democratic presidential candidate Heather Kim Lee proposed expanding federal Medicare policies for the first time, extending benefits to in-home care services for the elderly and disabled individuals. She also suggested increasing benefits for hearing and vision aids to help seniors live independently for longer periods.
Medicare, commonly known as the red and blue card, is the government’s health insurance program available to individuals aged 65 and older, or those who qualify based on disability. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents and have lived continuously in the U.S. for at least five years to apply.
Currently, Medicare does not cover long-term services such as home care aides, except for when the beneficiary is recovering from an acute illness. Private insurance in the U.S. similarly does not include these services, leaving families to bear the associated costs on their own.
Heather Kim Lee mentioned on the talk show “The View” that many Americans are known as the “sandwich generation,” facing significant economic burdens and caregiving responsibilities. She pointed out, “They not only need to take care of their own children but also their aging parents, and doing both tasks simultaneously is nearly impossible, especially when they also need to work. We found that many are forced to quit their jobs as a result, losing not only income but also facing emotional stress.”
Heather Kim Lee recalled her role as a caregiver during the final years after her mother, Shyamala, was diagnosed with cancer. “Helping elderly parents or someone else to prepare a meal, put on a jacket, is a way of respecting and preserving the dignity and autonomy of the care recipient,” she said. “People may lose some degree of skills, but their dignity and sense of pride remain unchanged.”
Analysis by the Associated Press suggests that Heather Kim Lee’s healthcare proposal is likely to gain support from a majority of voters, especially among older women and in key swing states. However, despite the potential for this plan to provide economic relief to American families, it still requires approval from Congress and the President’s signature to take effect. If the upcoming Congress is controlled by the Republican Party, the likelihood of approval for this proposal is slim.
According to data from the AARP, in Michigan, 34% of older women are family caregivers, compared to 30% among the overall older voter population. In Georgia, 37% of older women are family caregivers, while representing 34% of the general older voter population.
In Pennsylvania, 76% of potential voters aged 50 and older indicated a preference to support candidates who promise assistance for family caregivers.