The Class Act: Is It Dead or Just Sleeping?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established a voluntary public insurance program for long-term care: the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. In October 2011, the Obama Administration suspended the CLASS Act because of the high risk of fiscal insolvency. This article discusses several CLASS Act design and implementation issues, including the voluntary enrollment, the weak work requirement, the lifetime and cash benefits, and the premium subsidy for low-income workers.