Democrats in the House and Senate have introduced new legislation that would establish a “Part E” for Medicare, which would allow people to opt into the program.
Reps. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Don Beyer, D-Va., on Monday put forward the Choose Medicare Act. Under the proposal, a potential Medicare Part E would have the program compete with private insurance. Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley, of Ore., and Chris Murphy, of Conn., introduced a companion bill in that chamber.
Medicare Part E as outlined in the bill would sustain itself through premiums, with enrollees able to sign up through any state or federal insurance marketplace. Any existing subsidies available for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans would be applicable to Part E coverage.
The bill would also allow employers to choose to provide Part E coverage to workers.
“Our bill would give all Americans access to Medicare, one of the most popular and successful healthcare delivery programs in history,” Beyer said in a press release. “Allowing employers and the general public the option to choose Medicare would fill many of the gaps in our healthcare system, get more people covered, and make the nation healthier.”
Plans would be required to cover the ACA’s 10 essential health benefits and include “a full range of reproductive health services, including abortion,” according to the announcement.
In addition, the bill would establish a cap on out-of-pocket costs for traditional Medicare and allow the program to negotiate drug prices. The Part E coverage would also include consumer protections against surprise medical bills, the announcement said.
The proposal echoes the longstanding Democratic push for a public option or a government-backed insurance product that would compete directly with existing private insurance plans.
Some states have already rolled out public options for residents, and results have been mixed.