Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced a plan to expand Medicare to cover home health care for seniors.
This new proposal aims to help families who are taking care of both their children and elderly parents by making caregiving a little easier and more affordable.
Speaking on ABC’s “The View”, Harris shared how many people struggle to take care of their aging parents while also working full-time jobs.
She explained that covering home health care under Medicare would allow older adults to stay at home, keeping their independence and dignity, while also reducing the stress on family caregivers. 
Home health care includes services like helping seniors with daily activities such as eating, bathing, and dressing.
According to Harris’ plan, people enrolled in Medicare would be evaluated to see if they qualify for help. Those with lower incomes would get full coverage, while higher-income seniors would share the costs.
The goal is to keep more elderly people at home with less need for expensive nursing homes.
The Cost of the Plan
Harris acknowledged that expanding Medicare to cover home health care could be expensive.
Experts estimate that such a program could cost around $40 billion a year. To pay for it, Harris plans to expand Medicare drug price negotiations and look for other savings, like getting bigger discounts from drug manufacturers.
Her proposal also includes expanding coverage for hearing aids, eye exams, and stopping states from seizing seniors’ homes to recover Medicaid costs.
Today, most seniors have to pay for home health care on their own, and the cost can be overwhelming.
According to KFF, a home health aide costs about $69,000 a year for part-time help, and round-the-clock care can cost over $288,000 a year.
On the other hand, a stay in a nursing home costs between $104,000 and $117,000 annually, which is way beyond what most people can afford.
For comparison, the average income for a senior on Medicare is only $36,000 a year.
Harris Shares Her Personal Story
Harris often talks about her experience caring for her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who died of cancer in 2009.
She said taking care of a sick parent can be tough—whether it’s cooking meals they can eat or finding ways to make them laugh.
By expanding home health care, she hopes to make things easier for families in similar situations.
A survey by AARP showed that most caregivers have difficulty balancing work and caregiving.
Some even had to cut back on work hours or quit their jobs entirely. Harris’ plan aims to help these caregivers by making home health care more accessible and affordable.
Political Reactions
After Harris’ announcement, the Care in Action PAC—a group that supports caregivers—said they would invest more money in promoting her caregiving plan in key battleground states.
They praised Harris for her commitment to working families.
Harris has also been on a media campaign, appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, “The Howard Stern Show”, and other popular programs to talk about her plans.
She hopes to reach more voters and explain how her proposal can support those who are caring for aging parents and young children.
This proposal is part of Harris’ effort to make caregiving easier for millions of Americans.
By expanding Medicare, Harris wants to help seniors live comfortably at home and reduce the heavy burden on family caregivers.
