Wyden Proposes Improvements to Medicare Benefit, Enrollment Process

Press Release

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced a bill that would improve Medicare coverage for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The bill, the "Medicare Affordability and Enrollment Act," would establish an out-of-pocket spending cap, streamline the Medicare enrollment process by reducing penalties and roadblocks for those seeking coverage, and make the program more equitable for lower-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, among other steps to improve the program.

"Medicare has long been an ironclad guarantee to seniors of health care security and peace of mind in their later years," Wyden said. "Today, the promise of Medicare falls short for too many who find their health costs becoming more and more unaffordable. Protecting and strengthening the Medicare guarantee is a vital task as the program prepares to enroll the next generation of older Americans, and these policies will put many seniors on a firm foundation for years to come."

While Medicare has offered health and financial security to millions of Americans since it became law in 1965, the benefit needs to be updated to ensure the next generation of Americans entering the program have a secure retirement. That means improving affordability for many seniors, making it easier to enroll in the program, and abolishing some of the outdated policies that harm people who simply want access to health care.

There are several key challenges with the Medicare benefit today: seniors who have low-to-moderate income, but do not currently qualify for assistance with their premiums and out-of-pocket costs, face significant financial challenges when paying for health care. The enrollment process when a senior turns 65 is outdated and confusing. What's worse, one mistake early on in the enrollment process can lead to higher premium costs for a lifetime. And people with disabilities must wait a full two years after receiving Social Security Disability Insurance to enroll in Medicare, which can result in serious hardship as they seek treatment for their disability.

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