Democrats Roll Out Medicare Buy-in Proposal

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) have revived legislation permitting Americans to buy into the Medicare program at age 50, as opposed to universal access, reports NewsChannel5 . Under the buy-in proposals, Americans 50 to 64 could purchase Medicare plans via Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges. Federal funding would be unnecessary because enrollees would pay the premiums, but lower- and moderate-income participants could qualify for ACA subsidies to help defray their costs. Sponsors say this approach's benefits include fast enactment, whereas the Medicare for all approach would require a complete revamp of the national healthcare system. "It could happen now if it passed, using the current system — a trusted system — with those individuals who are most struggling right now in terms of health care costs," Stabenow notes. The buy-in legislation also would preserve the private insurance system.