On Sunday, Ian had a focal seizure, which triggered a whole series of phone calls with medical providers, on top of all the usual ways we support him during the week. It completely derailed my week. So my ears perked up when Harris announced on The View that she had a new Medicare at Home Plan. Would this help me at all? 

Her program is aimed at the 105 million caregivers in our country, mostly women, who are caring for elderly family members. Under her plan, Medicare would paying caretakers for their work or paying for a private nurse in their homes. It would provide a better safety net for seniors in the final years. (So, not for me, but I’m still highly sympathetic to any caregiving support program.) 

The problem with Harris’s plan is costs. Home health care providers are hard to find, and the total costs for around the clock care is huge. The Brookings Institute estimates that a conservative program would cost $40 billion a year. There are a whole host of other questions about eligibility and coverage. Harris’ plan is big on heart and low on details. But we should still continue the conversation.

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