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Congress·In Committee·about 1 month ago

Senator Blackburn Proposes Bill to Let Disabled Workers Over 65 Keep Medicaid Coverage

Also known as: Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2026

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Positive Impacts(8)
Medicaid
Helps

Removes the age-65 cutoff for Medicaid buy-in programs, letting workers with disabilities keep coverage past 65.

Disability Benefits
Helps

Workers with disabilities no longer face losing Medicaid buy-in coverage just because they turn 65.

Physical Disability
Helps

People with physical disabilities who work past 65 can keep Medicaid services like home health aides.

Chronic Illness
Helps

Workers with chronic conditions can keep specialized Medicaid coverage that Medicare alone may not provide.

Cognitive Developmental
Helps

Workers with cognitive disabilities keep access to Medicaid services that support independent living past 65.

Sensory Disability
Helps

Visually impaired workers can continue accessing Medicaid-covered services after turning 65.

Mental Health
Helps

Workers with mental health conditions can retain Medicaid coverage for specialized services past age 65.

Retiree
Helps

Older workers with disabilities no longer feel pressured to stop working at 65 just to keep health coverage.

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.
Medicare MedicaidDisability RightsLabor Employment

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 27, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced in Senate

Related News

6 articles
PBS News·27 days ago

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.

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Ripon Advance·24 days ago

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.

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Ripon Advance·about 1 month ago

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.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Ensuring Access to Medicaid Buy-in Programs Act of 2026

Bill NumberS 3690
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Sponsor

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.