Bill Overview
Title: Immediate Access for the Terminally Ill Act
Description: This bill makes various changes to Social Security benefits, including to expedite disability benefit payments to individuals with certain terminal diseases or medical conditions.
Sponsors: Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with terminal illnesses or medical conditions
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill impacts individuals who have been diagnosed with terminal diseases or medical conditions. These individuals are often those who have been given a prognosis indicating that their disease is incurable and likely to lead to death within a short time.
- Globally, the number of people diagnosed with terminal illnesses can include those with advanced stages of diseases such as cancer, severe heart disease, ALS, and others.
- The bill aims to expedite disability benefits, which are often complex and slow, to those in terminal stages, thereby providing them faster access to required social support.
Reasoning
- The policy specifically targets individuals with terminal illnesses to expedite their access to Social Security benefits, which could significantly improve their quality of life during an extremely difficult time.
- Considering the budget constraints, the number of individuals who will directly benefit from this policy is limited to those who are currently without expedited benefits and qualify under the new criteria.
- Most individuals in the target population will see a moderate to high impact in their self-reported wellbeing scores after the policy because the financial support can alleviate stress associated with medical and end-of-life care expenses.
- However, the resources will still not reach everyone in need, and some may see no change if they are already receiving expedited benefits or if their specific condition is not included under the new policy guidelines.
- Understanding the diversity within the target group is crucial, as terminal illnesses can vary widely in terms of time until impact, financial burden, and personal resources available outside of state support.
Simulated Interviews
Retired teacher (California)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy would help me by reducing financial stress so I can focus on my remaining time with loved ones.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 1 |
Freelance artist (New York)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Immediate financial support would mean affording care and lessening worries about leaving debts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 1 |
Homemaker (Texas)
Age: 70 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could ease the financial burden on my family who is caring for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 1 |
Retired military (Florida)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I already receive some expedited care, but additional funds would further alleviate my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 2 |
Software developer (Illinois)
Age: 49 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financial help through this policy is crucial for managing my family's finances after I'm gone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Retail worker (Michigan)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any financial respite would be a blessing as it would cover unexpected medical costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 1 |
Retired engineer (Ohio)
Age: 78 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help manage the cost of care as my condition deteriorates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 1 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 1 |
Stay-at-home parent (Washington)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is essential for ensuring that I can support my family during this time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 1 |
Farmer (Nebraska)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financial support would help with travel costs for medical appointments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 1 |
Retired mechanic (New Mexico)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could provide funds for in-home care and prescriptions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 1 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $900000000 (Low: $720000000, High: $1080000000)
Year 3: $950000000 (Low: $760000000, High: $1140000000)
Year 5: $850000000 (Low: $680000000, High: $1020000000)
Year 10: $750000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $900000000)
Year 100: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Key Considerations
- There is a trade-off between the increased cost of expediting these benefits and the potential for improving quality of life for beneficiaries.
- Potential administrative challenges linked with the rapid implementation of expedited benefits processing, requiring investments in technology and personnel.
- Coordination with healthcare providers for accurate and timely certification of terminal conditions is crucial for the policy's effectiveness.
- Monitoring and managing potential fraud or misuse as a result of expedited processes must be considered.