Statement: Care and support Green Paper

• Commons Hansard: Adult care and support in England
• Video and audio: Adult care and support in England
• Green Paper: Reform of adult care and support in England
• Topical issues: Elderly people

Green papers are consultation documents produced by the Government. Often when a government department is considering introducing a new law, it will put together a discussion document called a green paper to allow people and organisations both in and outside Parliament and Government to react and give the department feedback on its suggestions.

The Government is suggesting three ways in which the new National Care Service could be funded:

• A partnership model in which both the state and the individual share responsibility for funding care. Everyone would get a set proportion - either a third or a quarter - of their basic care costs paid for by the state. They would then have to pay the remainder themselves.
• A voluntary insurance model where people would get the same minimum proportion of basic care paid for through the national care service, but they could then choose to take out insurance against the cost of the remaining care, through either a state-backed insurance programme or a partnership between the state and private companies.
• A comprehensive model where everyone over retirement age would pay into a state insurance scheme, and would then get the full cost of their basic care met by the state.However, that would mean everyone over 65 making a contribution, even though they may not ultimately receive any care.