- One-fifth of PresidentBiden's $2 trillion

infrastructure package wouldgo toward providing home care

to the very poor and the disabledwho qualify for Medicaid.

That's a price tag of $400 billion.

While Medicaid alreadycovers both nursing home

and in-home care, there's asticking point in the form

of an average three-yearwaiting list for in-home care.

That means people who can't wait that long

end up in nursing homes.

The Biden Plan aims to changethat by increasing the number

of in-home care workersand their salaries.

- Democrat and Republicanvoters, their great concern

almost as much as thechildren, is taking care

of an elderly loved onewho can't be left alone.

Medicaid contemplated it, but this plan

is gonna help thosefamilies and create jobs

for our caregivers with betterwages and better benefits.

- [Lorie] Brian Weinsteinis with Visiting Angels,

one of America's largesthome care providers.

- By 2030, all baby boomerswill be at retirement age,

i.e. 65 or above.

So we'll have more seniorsthan we do children

for the first time inour country's history.

- [Lorie] Eventually, mostseniors will need help

with everyday tasks like bathing, cooking,

and taking medications.

Right now, 53 millionseniors and disabled people

get the help they needat home from relatives.

This adds up to an average of24 hours each week of care,

plus a cost of $7,000out of pocket each year,

to say nothing of the emotional toll.

Aside from family, professionalhome care providers

are paid different ways,such as with private

long-term insurance, VAbenefits, personal savings,

and in some cases, Medicaid.

The government funded seniorhealth insurance program,

known as Medicare, however,provides very little

for in-home care andthe Biden plan appears

to keep it that way.

- If you use Medicaid,it's a whole nother model.

You have to redo all of your paperwork.

You've gotta send in andget your applications

to make sure that you'reeligible for Medicaid.

If it was put into the Medicare program,

I think it would be mucheasier for seniors to navigate

for home-care based service through the

Medicare program versus Medicaid.

- [Lorie] In additionto shutting out people

who don't qualify for Medicaid,

critics argue in-home care doesn't fit

the traditional definitionof infrastructure.

- I think it's going to bea real fight in Congress

because what he's calling for is

a $400 billion increase in spending

in Medicaid and Medicaidright now is spending

about $130 billion a yearon long-term care services.

- [Lorie] Details determine everything,

and so far, this plan lacks specifics.

- I think it fits with a general pattern

of the Biden Administration'shealth policy,

which is to piece by piece, step by step

expand direct government controlover healthcare financing,

the coverage of healthcare services,

and long-term care services.

- [Lorie] So while it'sclear America's disabled

and low income seniors need help at home,

it remains to be seenwhether Congress sees fit

to spend hundreds ofbillions more on top of

what the government already provides.

Lorie Johnson, CBN News.