Effective January 1, 2010, elders receiving state funding from the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) will be required to pay 15% toward the cost of their services each month. For many, this cost share will be impossible and they will be forced off the Home Care Program, perhaps into a nursing facility.

It is estimated that as of 1-1-10, 4,940 state-funded elders will be required to pay 15% toward the monthly cost of their home care services.

The average monthly total CHCPE care plan per person costs $1,013. Under the proposed 15% cost share, individuals would be mandated to pay $152 per month on average.

Eighty-two percent of these individuals are below 200 percent of the poverty level.

Sixty percent of them live alone and have an average monthly income of $1,390.

They take an average of eight to nine medications each month with an average co-pay of approximately $200/month.

Their average amount of assets totals $10,147.

Seventy percent have been assessed at a nursing home level of care, but are able to stay in their own homes because of the support they receive from the CHCPE.

The average annual cost to taxpayers to keep elders home on the CHCPE is $12,156 per individual. The average annual cost to taxpayers if these elders need to be admitted to nursing facilities will be $78,610-$90,000.