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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Jay Purdy |
State Rep. Rick Taylor |
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House passes Taylor long-term care bill
HARRISBURG, June 26 – The House of Representatives today gave unanimous approval to a bill sponsored by state Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, that would allow Pennsylvania residents to take a proactive role in planning for their long-term care and well being.
The measure (H.B. 966) would create the Long-Term Partnership Program, a proposal to enable Pennsylvanians to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage for both home care and nursing home care in order to protect their assets.
“We will all be touched by the need for home or nursing care at some point in our lives, be it for grandparents, parents or ourselves,” said Taylor. “This legislation offers Pennsylvanians the tools they need to plan for the future, protect assets they hope to leave behind and reduce their dependence on medical assistance.”
The stays of approximately 44 percent of nursing home residents are being paid for by Medical Assistance, meaning they were forced to spend down their personal assets to become eligible. It also means the taxpayers are footing the bill for those residents.
“With innovative, bipartisan legislation such as this, we can save taxpayers millions while ensuring our seniors the care, comfort and peace of mind they deserve.
“Those who buy into partnership policies would most likely never have to go on Medical Assistance, meaning they could protect their home, their investments or priceless family heirlooms they hoped to leave for future generations.”
Taylor said he hopes the unanimous passage of his bill by the House will prompt the Senate to act promptly and positively on the measure.
“This is a win-win for all parties,” Taylor added. “This is smart policy with wide bipartisan support. We owe it to our parents and other seniors to provide them the option of protecting what they accumulated throughout their lives.”
The bill was referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee for consideration.
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