Washington, D.C. – Congressman Suozzi (D–Long Island, Queens) introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure that aging adults have a plan for their long-term care. The Planning for Long-term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act, co-led by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), launches a public campaign to educate families about the necessity of planning for long term care, helping them avoid the financial crisis that hits many families when their loved ones age.
This commonsense bill is part of Congressman Suozzi’s long-held dedication to addressing the long-term care crisis in this country. The PLAN Act complements his Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, which creates a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program coupled with a robust private sector insurance market.
“As our country faces a looming long-term care crisis, now is the time to ensure our future generations have the tools they need to age with dignity,” said Congressman Suozzi. “More than 70% of American seniors will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime, but most don’t plan for it while they’re still working. This commonsense bill helps impress upon American families the importance of planning ahead and averting financial crises instead of compromising on quality care for their loved ones.”
“Far too many Americans underestimate the importance of long-term care planning until they are faced with limited options and significant stress. This bill will help empower individuals to plan ahead and make informed decisions that work best for themselves and their families. I’m honored to be working across the aisle with Congressman Suozzi to advance this commonsense legislation,” said Congressman Bean.
Almost 70% of seniors will need some level of long-term care as they get older. However, less than 30% of adults over the age of 50 have thought about how they will care for themselves if they become disabled, and about half of adults mistakenly believe Medicare will cover long-term services like nursing home care or a home health aide. With more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, this betrays a major gap in long-term care planning that will turn into a financial crisis for many families as their loved ones age.
The PLAN Act addresses this problem by working with the Department of Health and Human Services to create a public education campaign to encourage families and working age adults to plan ahead for their long-term care needs during retirement. The inspiration for this legislation came from the 2005 Own Your Future campaign, which leveraged TV, radio, and mail outreach to encourage the public to consider how they will plan for long-term care. That campaign resulted in thousands more families planning for long-term care.
As the baby boomer population approaches retirement age and it becomes clear that few are adequately prepared for the long-term care costs they may face, now is the time to ensure that future generations have the tools they need to age with dignity. The PLAN Act does just that.
The bipartisan PLAN Act has the support of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), LeadingAge, the Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), Finseca, Genworth Financial, Northwestern Mutual, New York Life Insurance, and Nationwide.
The WISH Act would create a Public-Private Partnership to address the approaching long-term care crisis
Previously, Congressman Suozzi, with Congressman Moolenaar (R-MI), had proposed a bipartisan Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, which would create a federal catastrophic long term care insurance program that provides financial support for disabled seniors while fostering a more vibrant private sector insurance market.
“When I was growing up, all four of my grandparents lived at our home. Three of them were very sick. My mother was a nurse, and we all helped to take care of them. Everyone has a personal story with a grandparent or a family member that needs help as they age” said Suozzi. “Right now, our country is facing a looming long-term care crisis. 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day; in five years, 6,500 seniors will turn 80 every day. Medicaid and nursing homes are already overburdened, and seniors have no other affordable options to pay for the care that they will need. We need to handle this problem before it becomes a crisis, and I believe a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program coupled with a robust private sector insurance market is the way to do that.”
“Michigan seniors deserve to have more affordable options for their long-term care services, including home-based care. Unfortunately, too many faced with the need for long-term care are uninsured or unable to afford these necessary services, driving them to use their life savings or being placed on Medicaid. The WISH Act is a commonsense bipartisan proposal to assist those in need of long-term care by providing seniors with access to more affordable insurance options that would allow them to remain at home,” said Moolenaar.
After an elimination period of 1-5 years based on income, during which Americans would be expected to cover their own care through private insurance or otherwise, disabled seniors would receive a monthly benefit from the federal government to assist with long-term care costs. This proposal will incentivize private insurers to offer more affordable products and increase public awareness of the need to plan for long-term care costs before elderly individuals become disabled. This program will also reduce seniors’ need to spend down assets and qualify for Medicaid to afford care. By doing so, significant Medicaid savings would be created.
The WISH Act has been supported by the National Council on Aging, American Geriatric Society, American Academy of Physicians, American College of Physicians, National Alliance for Caregiving, Genworth Financial, and many industry experts.
“Older adults deserve access to affordable care at home. At the National Council on Aging, we hear stories every day of families devastated by the staggering costs of long-term care. Many caregivers must deplete their life savings or leave the workforce to care for family members. We applaud Congressmen Tom Suozzi and John Moolenaar for taking this first step in giving our nation’s families the support they deserve. We look forward to working with them to enact the WISH Act.,” said Ramsey Alwin, President & CEO of the National Council on Aging.
“Our country is rapidly aging–by 2040, adults 65 years and older will comprise nearly a quarter of the population. Right now, most adults, research shows, could not afford to cover a year or more of care in a nursing home or for a year’s worth of service provided by a paid nurse or aide. America’s current patchwork approach to long term care financing and delivery is unsustainable. We’ve long urged policymakers to recognize these realities, and provide critical, much-needed support. Mr. Suozzi’s legislation, The WISH Act, which would create a federal catastrophic long-term care insurance program, is a smart solution that would help pay for the supports that ensure quality of life as we grow older,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.
“On behalf of the American College of Physicians (ACP), I am pleased to offer our support for the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act. The WISH Act would establish a long-term care insurance system for older Americans—allowing older adults to age at home if they prefer….The number of Americans aged 65 years or older is expected to grow from 56 million in 2020 to 73 million in 2030, roughly 20% of the U.S. population…We commend you for introducing the WISH Act to help address the complex issue of financing long-term care for America’s older adults,” said Isaac Opole, President of the American College of Physicians.
“The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is pleased to support the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act, a bill to create federal catastrophic long-term care insurance for older adults. We greatly appreciate (Congressman Suozzi’s) leadership in addressing the cost challenges of long-term care. As geriatrics healthcare professionals, our members help their patients and their patients’ families navigate the long-term care system on a daily basis. There is no doubt a huge gap in care for most patients when it comes to the provision of and access to long-term care,” said Nancy E. Lundebjerg, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society.
“Almost no one can provide for their own risks of disability in old age. One in seven of us will need around-the-clock personal care for more than 5 years – and the vast majority cannot simply save for those costs. We need federal long-term care insurance to help cover the costs for long periods of long term care! The WISH Act would save so many families from the devastating costs of eldercare and would save all states from much of the costs of Medicaid for those among us who would otherwise become utterly impoverished,” said Dr. Joanne Lynn, Eldercare Advocate, Professor, and Author.
“For more than 30 years researchers and policymakers have been stymied trying to address the long-term care financing challenge. Along comes US. Congressman Suozzi who presents a bold, thoughtful, and creative solution to the problem that will help address the needs of our growing older adult population, offer relief to states, who have been facing significant increases in their Medicaid budgets, and deliver financial support to long-term care providers, who have been trying to give high quality care in an underfunded system. The problem is urgent, and this practical, targeted solution is worthy of Congressional consideration and support by all who want to solve this growing problem,” said Dr. Marc A. Cohen, Professor of Gerontology and Co-Director of the LeadingAge LTSS Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
“Genworth and CareScout have long believed that public-private collaboration is the answer to our national long-term care funding crisis. The reintroduction of the WISH Act is a solid step towards an effective combination of public and private sector solutions to help more people understand and plan for the cost of long-term care supports and services (“LTSS”). As this proposal continues to evolve, we look forward to engaging further with all stakeholders within the LTSS ecosystem to find meaningful, practical funding solutions that empower Americans to navigate the aging journey with confidence,” said Tom McInerney, CEO of Genworth Financial.
“The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) appreciates Representative Suozzi’s leadership in proposing legislation to address the need for catastrophic long-term care insurance. We look forward to continuing to discuss public-private options to finance caregiving and long-term care expenses,” said a spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
“We have a storm coming in this country. Spending down your assets and living in poverty on Medicaid is no way to end a life,” said Suozzi. “Seniors deserve to age in dignity and at home with the care they need, and the WISH Act can make that happen.”
Support for the Plan Act
“I commend Congressman Tom Suozzi for continuing to serve as a champion for long-term care solutions. Today, Representatives Tom Suozzi and Aaron Bean introduced a bill that will direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement, as part of the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, a public education initiative on the need for individuals to plan for long-term care. Far too many American families face caring for their loved ones with little to no financial resources, and they don’t know where to turn for help. This bill is a critical step forward in addressing this pressing challenge,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO The National Council on Aging (NCOA).
“Our long-term care system is complex, opaque, and difficult to navigate. Education is a vital component of ensuring strong access to care and easing the immense burden on individuals and their caregivers as they navigate options for loved ones. The ‘Planning for Long-Term Aging Needs Act of 2026,’ or the ‘PLAN Act of 2026,’ provides much-needed infrastructure to ensure more individuals are aware of their long-term care options and can make plans that align with their wishes. This is a much-needed first step toward a broader conversation about long-term care education and financing that is urgently needed. We thank Reps. Suozzi and Bean for introducing this important piece of legislation,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.
“BPC Action applauds Reps. Suozzi (D-NY) and Bean (R-FL) for their bipartisan leadership on the PLAN Act of 2026. This bill aligns with recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center’s long-term care work, which has consistently called for greater public education and awareness to help Americans plan ahead for their long-term care needs. Expanding access to information about the full spectrum of care options is essential to helping families make informed decisions and to building a more sustainable long-term care system, and BPC Action is proud to support this effort” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
“People need access to reliable information about long-term care before costs become a crisis and personal savings are on the line. Life insurers offer solutions to help cover those costs, and it starts with giving people the resources they need to plan ahead. ACLI supports Representatives Suozzi and Bean’s leadership on this bill that will help people plan for their long-term care needs,” said David Chavern, American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO.
“America’s aging population demands action—together, through education, planning, and partnership. Bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Tom Suozzi and Aaron Bean to create a comprehensive public education initiative focused on the critical need for individuals and families to plan for their long-term care needs does just that. This forward-thinking measure will help Americans better understand the financial, emotional, and personal challenges associated with aging and extended care, empowering them to take proactive steps to protect their independence, assets, and loved ones,” said Christopher Gandy, President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).
“This long-term care education bill reflects exactly the kind of bipartisan leadership our country needs,” said Marc Cadin, CEO of Finseca. “Finseca is grateful to Representatives Bean and Suozzi for stepping up to lead on this issue. For too long, long-term care has been a quiet crisis in American households. Now, we have a real opportunity to turn awareness into action. When people understand the risks and their options, financial security professionals can help them make smart choices that protect their savings, provide peace of mind, and support lasting financial security.”
“The need for long-term care isn’t a remote possibility, it’s a reality most families will face, often without a plan for how to navigate or pay for it,” said Tom McInerney, President & CEO of Genworth. “That lack of awareness is one of the biggest drivers of financial and emotional strain when care needs arise. Genworth and CareScout support Congressman Suozzi’s proposal as an important and meaningful step toward bringing long-term care planning into the national conversation because better information, delivered earlier, can help individuals and families make more confident decisions and avoid crisis-driven outcomes.”
“Many people think they won’t need long-term care; however, research suggests they’ll need it at some point in their life. We therefore appreciate Congressman Suozzi’s efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of long-term care insurance,” said a representative from Northwestern Mutual.
“Everyone has a personal story with a grandparent or a family member that needs help as they age. When I was growing up, all four of my grandparents lived at our home. Three of them were very sick. My mother was a nurse, and we all helped to take care of them,” Suozzi stated. “We need to make sure the next generation knows their options so our loved ones have the support necessary to age with dignity.”