I’m Part of the ‘Sandwich Generation’: 5 Reasons I’m Excited for Harris’ Plan for Long-Term Care
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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The presidential election is quickly approaching, which means Americans are starting to look at exactly which candidate’s policies and plans will help them. Enter Kate K., a 48-year-old marketing manager from Cincinnati who’s juggling it all: two kids under 10, a full-time job, and caring for her dad who has Alzheimer’s.
Like millions of Americans caught in the “sandwich generation,” she’s stretched thin trying to care for both her children and her aging parent.
Here’s why she sees hope in Harris’s Medicare expansion plan.
The 20-Hour Game-Changer
“When I heard about Harris’s proposal for 20 hours of weekly home care coverage through Medicare, I literally cried,” Kate shared. “Right now, I’m using my lunch breaks to check on Dad and my savings to pay for part-time care. Those 20 covered hours would be life-changing for families like mine.”
No More Estate Recovery Fears
The current system has Kate worried about her dad’s future. “I was horrified to learn that Medicaid could take my dad’s house after he passes to recover care costs,” she said. “Harris wants to end that practice. Dad worked his whole life for that house – it should help put my kids through college, not get seized by the government.”
Help for Cognitive Impairment
Kate’s situation is exactly what the plan addresses. “My dad has Alzheimer’s, which Harris’s plan specifically covers,” she explained. “The fact that she understands cognitive impairment needs different support than just physical limitations shows she gets it.”
Keeping Dad at Home
“Dad made me promise never to put him in a nursing home,” Kate shared. “This plan would help me keep that promise by providing the support we need for him to stay in his own home. Plus, it would probably save Medicare money in the long run compared to nursing home care.”
Support for the Whole Family
The ripple effects would help everyone, Kate said. “If we had reliable home care coverage, I could stop missing work for dad’s appointments. My kids could have their mom back for soccer games instead of watching me make phone calls to insurance companies. It’s not just about dad — it’s about our whole family‘s quality of life.”
The Reality Check
“People don’t understand what it’s like until they’re in it,” Kate concluded. “One day you’re just a working mom, and the next you’re also a full-time healthcare coordinator, insurance navigator, and caregiver. We need help, and this plan appears to give at least some relief. I’ll take it.”
For the 14.7 million Medicare beneficiaries who could be eligible for this new benefit — and the countless family members who care for them — Harris’s plan represents more than just healthcare policy. For people like Kate, it represents the chance to be both a good daughter and a present mother, without sacrificing either role.
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