Medicare for All Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-1129
Sponsor: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2019-04-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Administrative remedies
Alternative treatments
Budget process
Child health
Comprehensive health care
Congressional oversight
Debt collection
Dental care
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and health-based discrimination
Disability and paralysis
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee benefits and pensions
Executive agency funding and structure
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Hearing, speech, and vision care
Home and outpatient care
Hospital care
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Income tax credits
Inflation and prices
Insurance industry and regulation
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicaid
Medical education
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Medicare
Mental health
Nursing
Poverty and welfare assistance
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Sex and reproductive health
State and local government operations
Temporary and part-time employment
Women's health
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: 

Medicare for All Act of 2019

 
This bill establishes a national health insurance program that is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
 
Among other requirements, the program must (1) cover all U.S. residents; (2) provide for automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States; and (3) cover items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate to maintain health or to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate a health condition, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, and home- and community-based long-term care. 
 
The bill prohibits cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments) and other charges for covered services, with the exception of prescription drugs. Additionally, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program. 
 
Health insurance exchanges and specified federal health programs terminate upon program implementation. However, the program does not affect coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must cover certain institutional long-term care services.
 
The bill also establishes a series of implementing provisions relating to (1) health care provider participation; (2) HHS administration; and (3) payments and costs, including the requirement that HHS negotiate prices for prescription drugs and establish a formulary.
 
Individuals who are age 18 or younger may enroll in the program starting one year after enactment of this bill; other individuals may buy into a transitional plan or an expanded Medicare program at this time, depending on age. The bill's program must be fully implemented four years after enactment.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
action_date: 2019-04-10
text: Introduced in Senate