Topline
Vice President Kamala Harris will outline a new Medicare benefit proposal Tuesday aiming to help families caring for seniors at home, in what is the Democratic candidate’s latest policy pitch targeted at middle-aged voters who have to grapple with the costs of caring for both their children and elderly parents.
Vice President Kamala Harris latest policy proposal is aimed at the “Sandwich Generation” Americans … [+]
Key Facts
According to several reports, Harris will discuss her new proposal during her Tuesday morning appearance on ABC’s “The View”—one of the many interviews she’s doing this week as part of a media blitz.
Harris’ pitch will call for establishing a home care benefit through Medicare to cover the cost of long-term care services—including health aides—for seniors without them needing to go to a nursing home.
According to the Democrat’s campaign, the plan would be funded by the savings from her proposal of expanding Medicare drug price negotiations.
Harris campaign officials told various outlets that the proposal is aimed at the so-called “sandwich generation” of middle-aged Americans—who account for nearly a quarter of the U.S. population—and account for a sizable percentage of undecided voters.
According to the Pew Research Center, the “sandwich generation” is made up of adults who are supporting a living parent aged 65 or older, while also raising a child under the age of 18 or financially supporting a grown child.
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Key Background
On her campaign’s “issues” page, Harris mentions bringing down the cost of healthcare as a key policy promise. The proposals include “expanding and strengthening the Affordable Care Act”, lowering health care premiums and building on the Biden administration’s efforts to lower the cost of essential prescription drugs. Harris has also promised a $6,000 tax credit for parents of newborn children and has said she intends to cap childcare costs at 7% of working families’ income.
What To Watch For
Harris’ appearance on “The View” is part of a big media blitz by the Vice President this week. The morning show appearance will be followed by interviews on The Howard Stern Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert later on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Harris is set to take part in a town hall in Las Vegas hosted by Univision. Earlier this week CBS’ 60 Minutes aired an interview with the vice president and she also appeared on the “Call Her Daddy” over the weekend.
