ACA Offers Help For Informal Caregivers
Millions of Americans who provide unpaid care for ill, disabled or aged family members or friends can now get help through the Affordable Care Act for their own physical and emotional disabilities, according to a study by the White House Conference on Aging.
Almost 18 million Americans are “informal caregivers.” They typically provide 18 to 40 hours a week of assistance without pay to chronically ill relatives or friends. They are more likely to be women (62%) and middle-aged (50% are between 45-64 years). Almost two-thirds of people 65 or older rely exclusively on informal care, and an additional 30% use a mix of paid and unpaid care.
Informal caregivers help with eating, bathing, shopping, meal preparation, medication, visits to providers and other needs. They often are so focused on providing care that they neglect their own health, says the report.
Providing this assistance can take a toll on the mental or physical health of caregivers. They suffer from depression (13%) at twice the national rate. Two-thirds (67%) say they don’t go to the doctor because they put family needs first. Half say they don’t have time to take care of themselves (51%) or are too tired (49%) to do so. Just over half (53%) say their health has gotten worse due to caregiving, affecting their ability to provide care.
Elderly spouses who said caregiving caused an emotional strain had a 63% higher mortality rate than those whose spouses did not require care.
Because of the ACA, these informal caregivers now have great access to health insurance coverage, along with prevention and wellness services, the report noted. “Because of the availability of affordable, quality health insurance, caregivers will not have to make a choice between their care and that of a loved one due to financial constraints,” it said.
Caregivers can obtain coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace or through Medicaid, the report said. All Marketplace plans cover essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions, recommended preventive care and more, to help informal caregivers care for their own physical and mental health. Medicaid offers community-based support options to assist informal caregivers.
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