Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro introduced the Medicare for America Act, legislation that would open an expanded Medicare to anyone who wants it as a path to universal health coverage in the United States.

The bill would allow every U.S. resident to enroll, automatically enroll anyone without coverage, and let workers choose it over employer coverage while employers still pay their share of the premium.

“Healthcare is a right,” said DeLauro, “For more than 60 years, Medicare has provided needed healthcare to America’s seniors, giving them the security of knowing they can see a doctor without going broke. Every American deserves that peace of mind.”

Under the bill, enrollees would pay no deductible, out-of-pocket costs would be capped at $3,500 for individuals and $5,000 for households, and premiums would be capped at 8 percent of income. Coverage would include dental, vision and hearing care, prescription drugs and long-term services, and the bill would ban prior authorization and step therapy.

To address costs, the bill would require providers to accept Medicare for America rates from employer plans and Medicare Advantage plans and would raise payments for primary care and mental health services by at least 30 percent. DeLauro continued: “Medicare for America guarantees that no one in this country will ever be without coverage. And it allows families to continue to choose. If you like your current employer coverage, you keep it. If you want Medicare, it is yours – with dental, vision, hearing, an expanded benefits package, long-term services and supports, no deductible, and a hard cap on what you pay out of pocket.”

The bill would be paid for by repealing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and by a 5 percent surtax on income above $500,000, among other revenue sources. DeLauro first introduced the Medicare for America Act in 2018.