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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                                   MAY 29, 2026     |  The Indian Eye 26

                 Congressman Suozzi Tackles Long

                    Term Care Crisis With Bipartisan

                             Public Education Campaign

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            op and implement, as part of the Na-
                                                                                                                  tional Clearinghouse for Long-Term
            Washington, D.C.
                                                                                                                  Care Information, a public education
                  ongressman Suozzi (D–Long                                                                       initiative on the need for individuals
                  Island, Queens) introduced a                                                                    to plan for long-term care. Far too
            Cbipartisan bill to ensure that                                                                       many American families face caring
            aging adults have a plan for their long-                                                              for their loved ones with little to no
            term care. The Planning for Long-                                                                     financial  resources,  and  they  don’t
            term Aging Needs (PLAN) Act, co-led                                                                   know where to turn for help. This bill
            by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), launches                                                                   is a critical step forward in addressing
            a public campaign to educate families                                                                 this pressing challenge,” said Ramsey
            about the necessity of planning for                                                                   Alwin, President and CEO The Na-
            long  term  care,  helping  them  avoid                                                               tional Council on Aging (NCOA).
            the  financial  crisis  that  hits  many                                                                 “Our  long-term care  system  is
            families when their loved ones age.                                                                   complex,  opaque,  and  difficult  to
                This commonsense bill is part of                                                                  navigate. Education is a vital com-
            Congressman Suozzi’s long-held ded-                                                                   ponent of ensuring strong access to
            ication to addressing the long-term                                                                   care and easing the immense burden
            care crisis in this country. The PLAN                                                                 on individuals and their caregivers as
            Act complements his Well-Being In- adults over the age of 50 have thought   The bipartisan PLAN Act has   they navigate options for loved ones.
            surance for Seniors to be at Home  about how they will care for them- the support of the National Council  The  ‘Planning  for  Long-Term  Aging
            (WISH) Act, which creates a federal   selves if they become disabled, and   on Aging (NCOA), LeadingAge, the  Needs  Act  of  2026,’  or  the  ‘PLAN
            catastrophic long-term care insurance  about half of adults mistakenly be- Bipartisan Policy Center Action, the  Act  of  2026,’  provides  much-needed
            program coupled with a robust pri- lieve Medicare will cover long-term  American Council of Life Insurers   infrastructure to ensure more individ-
            vate sector insurance market.     services like nursing home care or a  (ACLI), the National Association   uals are aware of their long-term care
               “As our country faces a looming  home health aide. With more than   of Insurance and Financial Advisors   options and can make plans that align
            long-term care crisis, now is the time  10,000 Americans turning 65 every  (NAIFA), Finseca, Genworth Finan- with their wishes. This is a much-need-
            to ensure our future generations have   day, this betrays a major gap in long-  cial, Northwestern Mutual, New York  ed first step toward a broader conver-
            the tools they need to age with dignity,”  term care planning that will turn into  Life Insurance, and Nationwide.  sation about long-term care education
            said Congressman Suozzi. “More than  a financial crisis for many families as   “I  commend  Congressman  Tom  and financing that is urgently needed.
            70% of American seniors will require   their loved ones age.        Suozzi for continuing to serve as a  We thank Reps. Suozzi and Bean for
            some form of long-term care during    The PLAN Act addresses this   champion  for  long-term  care  solu- introducing this important piece of
            their lifetime, but most don’t plan   problem by working with the De- tions. Today, Representatives Tom   legislation,” said Katie Smith Sloan,
            for it while they’re still working. This   partment of Health and Human   Suozzi and Aaron Bean introduced  President and CEO of LeadingAge,
            commonsense bill helps impress upon   Services to create a public education  a bill that will direct the Secretary of  the association of nonprofit providers
            American families the importance of  campaign to encourage families and  Health and Human Services to devel- of aging services.
            planning ahead and averting financial   working age adults to plan ahead for
            crises instead of compromising on   their long-term care needs during
            quality care for their loved ones.”  retirement. The inspiration for this
               “Far too many Americans under- legislation came from the 2005 Own
            estimate the importance of long-term  Your Future campaign, which lever-
            care planning until they are faced with  aged TV, radio, and mail outreach to
            limited options and significant stress.  encourage the public to consider how
            This bill will help empower individu- they will plan for long-term care. That
            als to plan ahead and make informed   campaign resulted in thousands more
            decisions that work best for them- families planning for long-term care.
            selves and their families. I’m honored   As the baby boomer population
            to be working across the aisle with  approaches retirement age and it be-
            Congressman Suozzi to advance this   comes clear that few are adequately
            commonsense legislation,” said Con-  prepared for the long-term care costs
            gressman Bean.                    they may face, now is the time to en-
                Almost 70% of seniors will need   sure that future generations have the
            some level of long-term care as they  tools they need to age with dignity.
            get older. However, less than 30% of  The PLAN Act does just that.

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