Deluzio, Jayapal, Dingell, Ryan Introduce Bill to Lower Medicare Eligibility Age

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) introduced the Improving Medicare Coverage Act, legislation that would lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50 from 65 and make major coverage improvements.

“Especially after Trump’s healthcare cuts, expanding Medicare to Americans age 50 and up will save lives and get so many Americans the healthcare they need,” said Congressman Deluzio. “I am proud to support Rep. Jayapal’s Improving Medicare Coverage Act—this is an important steppingstone on the way to bigger healthcare reform where every American has good and decent healthcare.”

“Lowering the Medicare eligibility age will be life-saving for the millions of Americans who are waiting an additional 15 years to be able to afford to see a doctor,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “Expanding Medicare is not only popular, it is also morally the right thing to do. Millions leave the workforce before 65, and with Trump’s cuts to healthcare, many are now left without any options as they wait, sometimes years, for Medicare enrollment. Expanding this program is a commonsense step towards ensuring that all Americans have the care they deserve.”

“For millions of Americans who cannot afford to go to the doctor, it is too late to receive preventive care by the time they reach age 65,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “The U.S. is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care for all its citizens, and this needs to change now. I am proud to introduce this legislation to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50, improve the Medicare Savings Program, and make lifesaving drugs more affordable.”

“While Trump and Republicans cut your healthcare and raise your costs, we’re fighting back and putting your care first. But we’re not just reversing the harm – we’re building something better in its place, where millions more Americans will be able to access and afford the care they deserve right when they need it,” said Congressman Ryan. “This legislation expands healthcare coverage to millions of Americans, takes decisive action to lower costs, and makes sure that everyone who needs it has access to quality healthcare, and won’t have to wait to get the cancer screenings, preventative care, and prescriptions they need. This is a commonsense bill, and I look forward to passing it through the Democratically-controlled House next year.”

Adults in late middle age who don’t have health insurance are more likely to die or experience a preventable decline in their overall health. The risks for several chronic conditions and cancers naturally increase at age 50. The median ages for many cancer diagnoses fall below 65 years of age: for instance, 61 is the average age for a breast cancer diagnosis. Lowering the Medicare healthcare eligibility age would improve the chances of more people getting early diagnoses and surviving treatable diseases.

As of 2024, adults aged 55-64 made up 11.5 percent of the entire uninsured population in the U.S. The cuts to healthcare in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act are anticipated to kick 15 million Americans off their healthcare coverage, including more than 12,500 people who count on Medicaid in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. Around 22 million Americans are paying more than $1,000 more for their healthcare than they were before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. To take on these cuts and the increased costs to plan holders, lowering the Medicare eligibility age is an important step towards ensuring all Americans have health coverage. The legislation would also substantially reduce racial and ethnic health disparities in insurance coverage and healthcare.

In addition to lowering costs for older adults and improving patient outcomes, it is estimated that lowering the Medicare age could reduce costs for employers by up to 43 percent.

Specifically, the Improving Medicare Coverage Act would:

• Lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50;
   
• Establish a Medicare Cost Assistance Program to replace the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and the Qualifying Individual (QI) programs with one program covering specified Part A premiums and Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for individuals with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
   
• Enhance prescription drug affordability by:
   
• Expanding access to assistance with out-of-pocket costs under Medicare Part D for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities;
   
  • Combining the existing Extra Help and Low-Income Subsidy programs into one program;
     
  • Raising the eligibility from 135% FPL to 200% FPL;
     
  • Removing the asset test;
     
• Ensuring that any individual making under 400% FPL who is not eligible for the Medicare Savings Program maintains the same eligibility for marketplace premium tax credits.

The Improving Medicare Coverage Act is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Everton Blair (GA-13), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Jason Crow (CO-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sarah Jacobs (CA-51), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-36), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Adam Smith (WA-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

This legislation is endorsed by Center for Health and Democracy, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, MoveOn, People’s Action Institute, Physicians for a National Health Program, Public Citizen, SEIU, United Auto Workers.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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