Abandonment of CLASS Act a Blow to Long-term Care Advocates

For Immediate Release             
10/19/2011                    

Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
press@ndrn.org

WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration’s announcement that implementation of the CLASS Act will be halted is a significant set-back for people with disabilities.

In a statement, NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker said: “Planning for long-term care is not easy or affordable for anyone. Most of us do not want to believe that something could happen to us that would require long-term care or that we could find ourselves in a situation so dangerous that we would need in-home support. But the truth is that things do happen and the CLASS Act is needed to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to plan for future long-term needs as they age.

“Many people with disabilities have great difficulty finding good paying jobs that allow them to earn enough or save enough to provide for long-term care. Those that do find work are often denied affordable, quality insurance because of their disability.

“The CLASS Act is the only viable option available for people to maintain their independence through community living assistance services and other long-term support funded by voluntary contributions. Without it, people may be denied the choice to stay in their homes or their preferred residential facilities in the community.”

“With no other alternatives to fund long-term care, Americans will have to rely on Medicaid which limits income in order to qualify. It is unconscionable that people must be impoverished in order to get care.

“It is imperative that President Obama’s Administration continue to look for solutions to make implementation of the CLASS Act a reality.”

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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.