Join us: CLASS Act Call-In Tuesday, July 26

Please call Congress on Tuesday, July 26, in support of the CLASS Act.

Many of you helped pass the Community Living Assistance and Supportive Services Act (CLASS Act), the country’s first voluntary public long-term care insurance plan. Please help keep it from being repealed.

Our nation does not have a sustainable option for financing long-term care. For many, Medicaid – which requires a person to be impoverished – is their only payment option for care and services. That’s unsustainable.

Ecumen supports innovation in developing new solutions to fund the increasing health and housing needs of older Americans. The CLASS Act is a big step in creating a national long-term care financing system, but deficit reduction proposals are calling for the repeal of CLASS.

We must act immediately to keep the program moving forward.

CALL-IN DAY – TUESDAY, JULY 26
On Tuesday, our national trade association Leading Age will host a "Call-In Day to Save CLASS." We hope you’ll participate by calling 1-888-785-9795 on Tuesday, July 26. The call-in is an opportunity to tell your members of Congress three main reasons repealing the program would be a mistake:

1. CLASS Helps Americans – The CLASS program provides families with an affordable way to plan for future supports and services. CLASS will allow more Americans the ability to remain in their homes while getting the care they need.

2. CLASS Saves Money – The Congressional Budget Office said CLASS will reduce the budget deficit by $83 billion over 10 years. The program also saves federal dollars spent on Medicaid by reducing the number of people relying on the program for long-term services and supports.

3. Americans Support CLASS – A Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard poll found that 76% of Americans support the CLASS Act program.

ALSO E-MAIL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY
Ecumen’s Changing Aging Network has already setup messages to send to your members of Congress. There is no need to wait until Tuesday to send an e-mail, simply visit our Changing Aging Legislative Center web page.

The reality is that CLASS repeal would increase the federal budget deficit. Not only will CLASS bring in revenues, but according to the Congressional Budget Office, it also will reduce Medicaid spending. CLASS will transform financing of long-term services and support, help America’s workers and future retirees and promote choice and independence. Repealing it would reduce federal revenues and increase federal spending. It would be directly counterproductive to any reduction in the federal budget deficit.

Please contact your Senators and House members now and urge them not to include CLASS repeal in any deficit reduction legislation.