Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2026
Senator Blackburn Proposes Bill to Let Disabled Workers Over 65 Keep Medicaid Coverage
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill aims to help people with disabilities keep their health insurance even if they continue working past age 65. It removes a rule that currently cuts off certain Medicaid benefits once a worker reaches that age.
- Many states have 'buy-in' programs where workers with disabilities can pay a small fee to get Medicaid. This is important because Medicaid often covers specialized services, like home health aides, that regular insurance or Medicare might not cover.
- Under current law, these programs often stop at age 65. This bill would allow these workers to stay in the program as long as they are still working, regardless of how old they are.
- This change helps prevent a 'benefit cliff' where older Americans with disabilities feel forced to stop working just so they do not lose the medical support they need to live independently.
- If passed, states that already have these programs would be required to update their rules to include older workers by January 1, 2028.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
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
6 articles
House Passes Bill on Government Funding to End Partial Shutdown
The House passed a $1.2 trillion funding package to end a 43-day partial government shutdown. The legislation, H.R. 7148, includes several bipartisan health measures, such as the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act, which removes age limits for disabled workers.
Ciscomani's Medicaid buy-in bill signed into law
A bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani to allow disabled individuals who are working to buy into Medicaid became law on Feb. 3. The bill removes the age 65 cap, ensuring older adults with disabilities can stay in the workforce without losing essential health coverage.
Blackburn: '65 shouldn't be Medicaid cutoff age for working people with disabilities'
Senator Marsha Blackburn led the effort in the Senate to include the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act in the latest funding package. The bill addresses a gap that forced disabled workers to retire at 65 to maintain their Medicaid benefits.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.