Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act

Great Seal of the United States (obverse)

Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act (CLASS Act) was a U.S. federal law, enacted as Title VIII of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010. It aimed to establish a voluntary, consumer-funded long-term care insurance program for American adults who become functionally disabled. The CLASS Act sought to address the critical need for long-term care services, reducing the financial burden on individuals and their families and decreasing reliance on Medicaid for such care.

Overview

The CLASS Act was designed to provide a cash benefit to enrollees who met specific criteria of functional impairment, to help cover the costs of services and supports needed to remain in their homes and communities. This was in response to the growing demand for long-term care and the high cost of services, which many Americans are unable to afford. The program was intended to be funded entirely through participant premiums with no federal subsidies, making it a self-sustaining model.

Implementation Challenges

Despite its noble intentions, the CLASS Act faced significant implementation challenges. Concerns were raised about its financial sustainability, as the program needed a large number of healthy enrollees to balance out the costs of those who would draw benefits. In 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it could not implement the program in a way that would ensure its financial solvency for the required 75 years, leading to the suspension of the CLASS Act's implementation.

Repeal

The CLASS Act was officially repealed on January 1, 2013, as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. The repeal acknowledged the difficulties in implementing the program as originally designed, while also highlighting the ongoing need for viable long-term care solutions for the aging American population.

Legacy

Though the CLASS Act was short-lived, it sparked a national conversation about the need for long-term care insurance and the challenges of providing such care in the United States. It underscored the importance of addressing the long-term care needs of the disabled and elderly, a challenge that remains pressing as the population ages.

See Also

• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
• Long-term care
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services