A key component to California’s Master Plan for Aging (MPA) is addressing the financing challenges of long-term services and supports (LTSS), particularly for those who are not eligible for Medi-Cal, referred to here as the "overlooked middle."
The Budget Act of 2022 AB 179 (Ting) included $5 million to support data and research of LTSS financing and services options for older adults and people with disabilities. In March 2024, the California Department of Aging (CDA) launched the Long-Term Services and Supports Financing and AffordabilityInitiative. This initiative includes California-focused population analytics, policy research, and review of meaningful options to address the care and service needs of those in the overlooked middle. A Final Report will be presented to the Legislature in June 2026.
Goals of the LTSS Financing and Affordability Initiative:
- Provide policymakers with the latest information and data on the current and projected needs of middle-income older adults and people with disabilities in California.
- Obtain widespread consumer and stakeholder input to validate and deepen the understanding of the needs of older adults and people with disabilities in California.
- Identify a comprehensive set of innovative approaches to consider to address the needs of middle-income older adults and people with disabilities in California, including a concept to leverage Medicare dollars to cover certain home and community-based services.