POUGHKEEPSIE – Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-19) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) made the rare move to introduce a proposed bill in a congressional district, rather than on Capitol Hill, on Friday. The two lawmakers introduced the Improving Medicare Coverage Act, legislation that would expand healthcare coverage to millions of Americans by lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 50. Rep. Jayapal (WA-07), Ryan’s co-lead on the bill, joined Ryan at the Poughkeepsie Town Hall to provide an overview of the legislation.
At age 50, the risk of several chronic conditions and cancers naturally increases, according to medical professionals. The median ages for many cancer diagnoses fall below 65 years of age: for instance, Ryan said, 61 is the average age for a breast cancer diagnosis. Adults in late middle age who lack health insurance are more likely to die or experience a preventable decline in their overall health. “Lowering the healthcare eligibility age would improve the chances of being diagnosed early and surviving treatable diseases,” Ryan said.
“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.”
, adults aged 55-64 made up 11.5 percent of the U.S. uninsured population. The cuts to healthcare in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to remove 15 million Americans from coverage, and 22 million Americans are paying more than $1,000 more than they did before the Affordable Care Act tax credits expired. To address these cuts and rising planholder costs, Rep. Ryan said lowering the Medicare eligibility age is an important step toward ensuring all Americans have health coverage.
In addition to lowering costs for older adults and improving patient outcomes, lowering the Medicare eligibility age could reduce employer costs by up to 43 percent, Ryan’s office said.
The Improving Medicare Coverage Act, according to Rep. Ryan and Rep. Jayapal, 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; and
- Removing the asset test
- Ensure 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.
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