FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Eugene DePasquale D-York www.pahouse.com/DePasquale

DePasquale: Tax credit would help long-term care patients

HARRISBURG, March 2 – To help offset the growing cost of long-term care, state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, recently reintroduced legislation that would provide a tax credit to individuals who purchase long-term care insurance.

DePasquale said H.B. 638, which he first introduced last session, would allow Pennsylvanians who purchase long-term care insurance to offset their state Personal Income Tax by 50 percent of their premiums paid in a calendar year. The bill would set a maximum credit of $1,000.

"With the growing costs of health care compounded by today's economic climate, it is important that individuals who are facing long-term care be able to afford their insurance premiums," DePasquale said. "Medicaid helps many people who qualify, but there are still thousands of Pennsylvanians who are forced to pay out of pocket for long-term care. This bill would provide some financial relief for those who are struggling to pay their insurance premiums."

If passed by the General Assembly, Pennsylvania would join nearly 30 states and Washington D.C. that provide a tax credit for residents who buy their own long-term care insurance.

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