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WISH Act
3/28/2025, 12:28 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2082
The main provisions of the bill include the establishment of a new long-term care insurance program that would provide benefits to individuals who require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. The program would be funded through premiums paid by participants, as well as federal contributions.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions to improve access to long-term care services for low-income individuals, by expanding Medicaid coverage for long-term care and providing subsidies for those who cannot afford insurance premiums. Overall, the Long-Term Care Insurance Benefits Act aims to address the growing need for long-term care services in the United States, by providing a new insurance program to help individuals cover the costs of long-term care. The bill is currently under consideration in Congress and has received bipartisan support.
Congressional Summary of HR 2082
Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home Act or the WISH Act
This bill establishes a federal long-term care insurance benefit and provides specified funds for the program.
To be eligible, an individual must have reached retirement age (currently between 65 and 67, depending on the individual’s year of birth) and have had a continual serious functional disability for between one and five years, depending on the individual’s income.
Under the bill, an individual has a continual serious functional disability if a licensed health care practitioner has certified that the individual
- has been unable to perform at least two activities of daily living (including eating, bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom) without substantial assistance for at least 90 days, or has a similar level of disability; or
- requires substantial supervision to protect them from threats to health and safety due to severe cognitive impairment.
The individual must also be expected to remain disabled for at least one year.
The bill also establishes a Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Trust Fund and provides specified funds for the initial establishment of the benefit program, benefit payments during FY2026-FY2028, and public education related to the program.
Finally, the Government Accountability Office must periodically report to Congress on consumer understanding of long-term insurance offerings, the likelihood of manipulation of eligibility criteria by beneficiaries, and the likelihood of financial exploitation or mistreatment by others on whom a beneficiary is dependent.
