Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act
Congress proposes Medicare buy-in for retired or disabled first responders ages 50–64
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Creates a new option for certain first responders ages 50–64 who retired or left work due to disability to buy Medicare coverage.
- If eligible, you’d get Medicare hospital coverage, doctor visits, and drug coverage, and you could choose a private Medicare plan that includes prescriptions.
- You would pay a monthly premium set to cover the average cost of the benefits; if you pick a pricier private Medicare plan, you pay extra.
- People using this buy-in would not be able to get Medicaid help paying Medicare deductibles and copays through this program.
- The bill also sets up outreach grants (starting in 2027) to help people learn about and sign up, and it says the program should not reduce current Medicare benefits or harm Medicare trust funds.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articles
Landsman, Gallego Introduce Bill to Allow First Responders Early Access to Medicare
Announcement of the Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act (H.R. 6147 / S. 3221), creating a Medicare buy-in option for eligible first responders ages 50–64 who retire early or leave due to disability.
Gallego, Landsman Introduce Bill to Allow First Responders Early Access to Medicare
Press release describing S. 3221 / H.R. 6147 to let certain first responders buy into Medicare starting at age 50, with supporting quotes and endorsements from first responder groups.
S. 3221, the “Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act.”
FOP support letter for S. 3221 describing the Medicare buy-in concept for public safety officers who retire before age 65 and may lose employer-sponsored coverage.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.