Democrats to propose bill capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs for enrollees

Democrats to propose bill capping out-of-pocket Medicare costs for enrollees centers on limiting consumer spending in traditional Medicare, renewing a long-running dispute over why the program lacks a spending ceiling. Sen. Ron Wyden and 14 Democratic co-sponsors plan to introduce legislation to cap beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket cost sharing, which currently has no limit in traditional Medicare. Supporters say securing passage this year is unlikely, but they aim to spotlight voter frustration over healthcare affordability ahead of the November election; a Gallup survey found fewer than half of Americans can consistently afford healthcare. The proposal would set a $5,000 cap, with Medicare covering costs above that threshold. Amounts paid by Medigap or retiree plans would count toward the cap. The bill also includes provisions for older people with lower incomes, such as eliminating an asset test, and critics warn about potential federal budget costs.