(File Photo of Congressman Chris Deluzio)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18) introduced the Improving Medicare Coverage Act last week.

This is legislation that would lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 50 and make major coverage improvements.

It is estimated that lowering the Medicare age could reduce costs for employers by up to 43 percent in addition to lowering costs for adults that are older and improving the outcomes for patients.

According to a release from Congressman Chris Deluzio’s office, the Improving Medicare Coverage Act would specifically do these things:

• Lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50;

• Establish a Medicare Cost Assistance Program to replace the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and the Qualifying Individual (QI) programs with one program covering specified Part A premiums and Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for individuals with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

• Enhance prescription drug affordability by:

• • Expanding access to assistance with out-of-pocket costs under Medicare Part D for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities;

• • Combining the existing Extra Help and Low-Income Subsidy programs into one program;

• • Raising the eligibility from 135% FPL to 200% FPL;

• • Removing the asset test;

• Ensuring that any individual making under 400% FPL who is not eligible for the Medicare Savings Program maintains the same eligibility for marketplace premium tax credits.