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Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), a member of the House Budget Committee, is offering two amendments to the Republican budget resolution for FY2016 to ensure seniors, persons with disabilities and working families do not lose access to critical health care services, and to prioritize the establishment of a real long-term care system in the United States.

Dingell’s first amendment improves the availability of long-term care insurance for seniors and other Americans, a need that is growing more critical as the U.S. population ages. “Long-term care is a concern that affects all Americans, and I know we all have loved ones who have, or will, face the possibility of needing long-term services and supports,” said Dingell. “In fact as our nation continues to age the demand for long-term care is expected to double in the next 40 years.”

The share of the U.S. population aged 65 or older is expected to reach 19 percent by 2030, double what it was in 2000. Experts estimate that 7 in 10 Americans aged 65 or older will need long-term services and supports at some point. However, in the U.S., the costs of long-term care services are currently covered by a patchwork of private insurance, public programs, and reliance on unpaid family caregivers, leaving huge gaps in coverage and access to care for people who either do not qualify for Medicaid, are exhausting their retirement savings on the way to qualifying for Medicaid, or who do not have access to private insurance. In fact, Dingell says, “people are terrified of what the future holds and do not know how to get help, find help or pay for what is needed.”

Dingell’s amendment is the first step on the path to a permanent solution to this pressing problem. It creates a deficit-neutral reserve fund in the budget to support enactment of a long-term care insurance bill this Congress. “It is long past time for a new approach that can help American seniors get the services they need, and also put our country’s long-term care system on sounder financial footing,” said Dingell. “This issue just can’t wait, which is why this amendment is so important.”

Dingell’s second amendment rejects the $913 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years that is included in the Republican budget. “Turning Medicaid into a block grant, as the Republican budget proposes, is not the answer,” said Dingell. “It does nothing to reduce health costs, but would inevitably shift burdens to the states and would lead to a dramatic cut in health care support for the 69 million Americans who depend on Medicaid, imposing a serious financial hardship on them and their families.”

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that turning Medicaid into a block grant would result in states dropping between 14 and 20 million people from Medicaid by the tenth year. This includes the most vulnerable among us including seniors, poor children and their families and persons with disabilities.

Yesterday, Dingell spoke on the House floor in opposition to the Republican budget. For video of her speech, please click here.