he Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program or CLASS Act was established by an amendment to the health reform law. The CLASS Act is a national, voluntary insurance program created to help offset the costs of non-medical services and supports such as home health care and adult day care. If it lives up to expectations it will reduce reliance on Medi-Cal (Medicaid), provide relief to family caregivers, and allow people with disabilities to reside for longer in the community. Benefits will be paid out of a trust fund consisting of the enrollees’ premiums and the interest earned on the trust fund.
When It Begins – The CLASS program is effective on January 1, 2011. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (“HHS Secretary”) is expected to define the CLASS benefit by October 2012 after which enrollment will begin.
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