Harris Proposes Medicare Funding for At-Home Care As Costs Outpace Inflation, Weighing On Families

2024-10-16 1,435

Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed to have Medicare cover the costs of at-home care, addressing the growing financial strain on over 38 million unpaid family caregivers. The number of caregivers in the U.S. has increased by 4 million since 2015,  and families are struggling with out-of-pocket costs, which average over $7,000 annually. At-home care costs have risen over 8% from last year, far outpacing general inflation. Harris’s plan would be funded by expanding Medicare drug price negotiations and tackling Medicare fraud. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has promised to lower caregiving costs but has not outlined specific legislative proposals.