Our Bureau
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.
“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.
