CCC Care Policy Insights
Paying for Care: Third-party top-ups and cross-subsidies
What’s the problem?
CCC has published its Insights paper because third-party top-ups and the hidden cross-subsidy of care costs are matters of deep concern to – and a top priority for – our members. Why? Because the current practices are inequitable and they have evolved by stealth from a position where top ups are paid for "extra services" over and above needed care to a point where they are becoming necessary to secure care.
Fundamentally, the way that top-ups are now required is symptomatic of the chronic under-funding of care and a cause of distress to care recipients and their families and to many of those who have to adopt such practices.
CCC’s Insights paper presents the issues and dilemmas surrounding third-party top-ups and cross-subsidy of care costs from the point of view of:
- a policy adviser
- a care-home owner
- a local authority commissioner of care
- a lawyer
- a specialist financial adviser
- a provider of charitable funding to those seeking care.
What does CCC want?
CCC seeks to persuade the Government and all those with an interest in developing a sustainable care funding system to recognise the endemic problems we highlight and to work towards ending the abuses described.
CCC seeks an extensive development of policy on funding for and access to care, on the principle that the provision of care is based on the needs of the individual rather than the method by which an individual’s care is funded, or their ability to pay. Only those who have genuinely exercised choice should expect to pay "top-ups".
Dr Clive Bowman, Chairman, CCC
CCC’s key points and the key concerns, insights and proposals of contributors
CCC’s full Care Policy Insights paper, Paying for Care: Third-party top-ups and cross-subsidies
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