Bill · S. 2032· Senate(119-S-2032)
Choose Medicare Act
- Introduced
- 6/11/2025
- Last activity
- 6/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Choose Medicare Act aims to establish Medicare Part E public health plans available in individual, small group, and large group markets. These plans must provide essential health benefits, gold-level coverage, and reproductive services. The bill also implements protections against high out-of-pocket expenditures for Medicare Part A and B beneficiaries. Additionally, it enhances premium assistance credits and reduces cost-sharing for certain individuals. The legislation includes significant funding for the establishment of these plans and a new reinsurance and affordability fund.
Yes· 3 of 12
Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65?+8
The bill establishes a new Medicare Part E and provides significant funding for these health plans.
Does this make abortion easier to get?+8
The bill explicitly mandates coverage for abortions and all other reproductive services in Medicare Part E plans.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+8
The bill greatly expands coverage options and protects against high out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The opposite· 3 of 4
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-5
The bill requires significant new federal spending through appropriations and reinsurance funds.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-5
The bill establishes new expensive programs including Medicare Part E and a $30 billion reinsurance fund.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-5
The significant increase in federal obligations and appropriations impacts fiscal responsibility.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Access to Gold-Level Coverage: The bill establishes Medicare Part E plans that provide gold-level coverage and all items/services available under title XVIII (Sec. 2(a)(b)(1)).
-
Reproductive Health Coverage: Part E plans must provide coverage of abortions and all other reproductive services, and states cannot prohibit this coverage (Sec. 2(a)(b)(1)(D) and Sec. 2(a)(b)(2)).
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Protection Against High Medical Costs: Starting in 2027, individuals under Medicare Part A or B will have an annual out-of-pocket limit to protect against excessive costs (Sec. 4(a)).
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Enhanced Premium Assistance: The bill changes the benchmark for premium assistance to a "gold plan" and extends eligibility rules (Sec. 5(a)).
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Reduced Cost Sharing: The legislation modifies procedures to further reduce cost-sharing for individuals based on their household income levels (Sec. 6(b)).
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Employer Portability: The Secretary will develop a process allowing individuals to maintain Medicare Part E coverage even if they lose eligibility due to termination of employment (Sec. 2(a)(c)(3)(C)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exclusions from Eligibility: Individuals who are already entitled to or enrolled in benefits under title XVIII, or eligible for certain State medical assistance plans, are excluded from enrolling in Medicare Part E (Sec. 2(a)(c)(2)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access+8Improves Healthcare Access+8Increases Medicare Funding+8Increases Affordable Care Act Support+7Reduces Prescription Drug Costs+5Reduces Private Insurance Premiums+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+8Good For Women+8Good For Middle Class Households+6
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+7Improves Fiscal Responsibility-5Reduces Government Spending-5Reduces National Debt-5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+6Increase States Rights-4
- 12/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota