Bill · S. 5270· Senate(119-S-5270)
Medicare at Home Act
- Introduced
- 8/5/2026
- Last activity
- 8/5/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Andy Kim
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Medicare at Home Act" seeks to amend the Social Security Act to create a new Medicare home care benefit. This benefit would cover services like assistance with daily living activities and certain household tasks. To qualify, individuals must be entitled to Medicare benefits and have a physician certify their need for assistance. The law specifies that these services are limited to 20 hours per week. It also establishes that the Secretary must create a payment method that includes a reasonable wage floor for workers. The Act includes provisions for adjusting premiums to cover the costs of this new benefit.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+8
The bill directly benefits seniors by providing much-needed home care assistance via Medicare.
Would retired people be better off under this?+8
The bill creates a new benefit that directly assists retirees with daily living needs.
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+7
The bill provides essential assistance for people with disabilities to live at home.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Support for Daily Living: The bill establishes "home care services" which include assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as instrumental activities like meal preparation and medication reminders (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Ability to Age at Home: The bill finds that a capped benefit would allow older adults and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes and communities (Section 2(5)).
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Relief for Caregivers: The establishment of this benefit would take pressure off unpaid family caregivers who currently provide significant unpaid care to the economy (Section 2(5)).
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Fair Wages for Workers: The Secretary is required to establish a payment methodology that reflects a "reasonable wage floor" for home care workers (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Time Restrictions on Care: The law limits home care services to no more than 20 hours per week per individual (Section 3(a)(2)(A) and Section 5).
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Increased Costs for Beneficiaries: The Secretary is directed to adjust monthly premiums under the Social Security Act to reflect the additional costs of this new benefit (Section 6(a)).
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Service Exclusions: The new home care services are explicitly separate from and do not include existing home health services (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
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Eligibility Restrictions: Individuals are not eligible for these services if they are already receiving duplicate long-term services and supports through a State Medicaid plan (Section 4(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+8Good For Seniors+8Good For People With Disabilities+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicare Funding+6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+6Improves Social Security+5
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 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.