Democrats Move to Allow More People to Buy Medicare

A new bill called the Choose Medicare Act would let businesses and Obamacare customers buy into Medicare, reports the Washington Examiner . The proposal, which has 10 Democratic co-sponsors and no Republican sponsors, is a kind of "public option" that would be sold alongside the option to buy private health insurance. It would be known as "Medicare Part E." The bill offers Medicare plans both to individuals who do not receive coverage through a job and to employers. Medicare covers adults 65 and older and people with disabilities. Under the new proposal, the same benefits would be offered, but the government would be permitted to negotiate drug prices. The Choose Medicare Act also could make government subsidies more generous than Obamacare. It would enable individuals who make up to 600 percent of the federal poverty level to receive subsidies that reduce the cost of premiums to them, compared to the current cap of 400 percent, or about $48,240 per year for an individual. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) believes that many consumers would select Medicare rather than buy private plans, and that offering Medicare would encourage private health insurers to offer more competitive prices. Other Democrats have supported a different proposal called the Medicare for All Act, which would bring every U.S. citizen onto the Medicare program regardless of whether someone has employer coverage or is on Medicaid. Senators have framed the Choose Medicare Act as a possible, smaller step in that direction.