Hawaii Proposes New Commission to Fix Soaring Long-Term Care Costs
Hawaii is taking steps to tackle the rising cost of long-term care, which now tops $3.2 billion a year. With skilled nursing home care exceeding $230,000 annually and home-based care often costing even more, lawmakers have proposed new legislation to create an independent advisory commission on financing solutions.
Two bills—House Bill 1804 and Senate Bill 2554—aim to establish the Long-Term Care Financing Advisory Commission. This group will review financial assessments, policy reforms for home and community-based care, and ways to engage the public in shaping solutions.
The commission's key tasks include exploring affordable, sustainable, and fair financing options for long-term services and supports (LTSS). It will also seek progressive funding methods to replace regressive payment systems that burden families. Over 160,000 unpaid family caregivers in Hawaii currently cover nearly 75% of the state's LTSS costs, yet more than half of working families earning between $25,000 and $125,000 lack any financial protection against catastrophic care expenses.
By early 2026, at least 14 US states—including Washington, California, New York, Illinois, and Maryland—will have enacted or be nearing implementation of state-based long-term care insurance programmes. Hawaii's commission will use evidence-based research to propose legislation ensuring reliable funding mechanisms for future care needs.
The proposed commission will submit recommendations to make long-term care financing more equitable and sustainable. If passed, the legislation would provide a structured approach to easing the financial strain on Hawaii's families and caregivers.
