Medicare at 55 Could Gain Momentum in 2019

With Democrats set to take majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives, some expect lawmakers to proactively stump for the "Medicare at 55 Act," a proposal to offer Americans between 55 and 64 an option to buy into Medicare, reports Forbes . The proposal notes there are over 40 million Americans who are 55 and 64 years old, and they "are burdened by high insurance premiums, unaffordable deductibles, and limited options." When she originally presented the measure in 2017, co-sponsor Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) said it "offers a choice for millions of older Americans to buy more affordable, quality healthcare coverage. For people between the ages of 55 and 64, this is a high-quality option that can help reduce health insurance costs and increase competition." Medicare at 55 could find favor among more moderate Republicans and Democrats concerned about expanding entitlements, given climbing deficits spurred by GOP-led tax cuts. Advocates said those gaining Medicare coverage would buy into it so the government would not cover all expenses. The proposal also could find support in the insurance industry, in view of popular Medicare Advantage plans offered by Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group.