The new health care law established a new voluntary national insurance program that will provide cash benefits to participants who have a qualifying disability that limits their day-to-day living and who meet the other eligibility criteria.
This new program is called “CLASS,” which means “Community Living Assistance Services and Supports.” This program will go into effect after October, 2012, and will be provided automatically to all employed persons whose employers participate in the program. If your employer participates, you will be enrolled and the premiums will automatically be deducted from your paycheck, unless you elect to opt out of the program. If you are self-employed or your employer does not participate, you can elect to participate yourself.
After you have been enrolled for five years and worked during three of those years, you will be eligible for a new cash benefit to help you pay for any qualifying disability requiring long-term care. You can use this insurance benefit to help pay for non-medical services and supports such as personal care, assistive technology, home modification, or transportation. You can also use it to pay part of the cost of assisted living or nursing home care.
Read an AARP Fact Sheet containing a quick summary » The New Health Care Law: Helping You Pay for Long-Term Care.
Read more about CLASS on HealthCare.gov
