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What would this bill do?
This bill would create a long-term care benefits trust fund — public money that would be set aside so that all Hawai’i residents in need of long-term care at home would be able to access resources to help pay for the costs.
How would this help me and my family?
The bill calls for a long-term care benefit of $70 per day for 365 days and would establish a “care floor,” ensuring that everyone would have access to basic resources to provide care at home. This fund isn’t meant to cover a stay in a long-term care facility like a nursing home or an assisted living home. What it would cover includes assistance with daily living, like hiring home care aides to help you or loved ones that you’re caring for stay at home safely and comfortably as well as equipment like walkers and ramps.
I thought Medicare paid for this. Isn’t there already a government program for this?
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover most long-term care costs, like hiring a home care aide or respite care.
What other states in the country have a similar program!
Hawai’i would be the first! Because of the role kupuna play in our communities, this bill represents an opportunity for Hawai’i to be the national leader on innovative public policy that provides needed assistance to family caregivers who want to help their loved ones remain at home.
How would we pay for it?
The fund would be created by slightly increasing the General Excise Tax. Because people who are visiting Hawai’i pay GET on their purchases, about 35 percent of the amount of money paid into this fund will be paid by people who do not live here and are not eligible to receive the benefits.
This fund would be administered by a group of Trustees, whose job it is to ensure the long-term health of this trust fund. Money in this fund can and will only be used to help provide long-term care; it is not part of the general revenue fund.
Why pay for it with GET?
Creating this fund requires a sizable investment of resources, and we believe there is nothing more worthy of a long-term investment than caring for our elders. Creating a new funding mechanism is tricky and inefficient; a slight increase in the GET is the most realistic way to help families provide the care that they want to provide.
Has anyone researched this?
Yes! Extensive research has been conducted throughout the years, and this bill is rooted in the most recent report by the Long Term Care Commission of Hawai’i, which was published in 2014.