Bennet, Kaine, Colleagues Reintroduce Medicare-X Choice Act to Achieve Universal Health Care

Dec 4, 2025| Press Releases

A Public Health Insurance Plan Would Provide An Affordable Option for Families Across Colorado, Virginia, and the Country

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced the reintroduction of their legislation, the Medicare-X Choice Act, which would create a public option by building on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare frameworks as over 14 million Americans are set to lose their health care coverage as a result of Republicans' $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and the expiration of critical premium tax credits. The Medicare Exchange (Medicare-X) plan would offer families, individuals, and small businesses affordable health insurance, decrease the number of uninsured Americans, control the cost of health care, and increase competition in the health insurance market.

"Our health care system repeatedly fails to give working Americans the care they need," said Bennet. "Now, millions face even greater barriers to accessing affordable health care due to the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. Countless families are also grappling with the possibility of losing their coverage due to skyrocketing premiums as time runs out to extend critical ACA tax credits. In the wake of a looming health care crisis, Medicare-X will give everyone an affordable option regardless of where they live, reduce health care costs, and improve the quality of available insurance. We have a responsibility to create the best health care system possible, achieve universal coverage in our country, and save millions of Americans from being thrown off their health insurance. We can do that through Medicare-X."

"Access to high-quality and affordable health care is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. This year, Republicans have decimated health care and have yet to come to the table to extend critical enhanced premium tax credits to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing. My hope is that in the coming days, my Republican colleagues will join us in voting for legislation to extend critical enhanced premium tax credits while we work together on long-term solutions to expand care," said Kaine. "One of those solutions is passing my Medicare-X Choice Act to provide Americans with another option to get affordable health insurance."

The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to an additional 20 million Americans, established critical protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, and standardized essential health benefits for all qualified plans. However, many Americans still face high health care costs and limited options for affordable insurance.

The bill would work within the Medicare and ACA frameworks to establish a Medicare Exchange public option plan in every county in America for individuals, families, and small businesses, providing an additional, affordable option in all communities. It would also permanently extend enhanced premium tax credits to make all exchange options even more affordable.

"Coloradans and all Americans are in desperate need of more affordable and equitable health coverage. Congress must act so our families, friends, and neighbors aren't forced into the impossible decisions between health coverage and other basic necessities. This bill creates a long term solution with Medicare-X that will be more affordable, equitable, and control costs while ensuring the ongoing success and affordability of coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Where Republicans in Congress have refused to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that are vital to keeping coverage affordable for millions of Americans, this will give families long-term affordable coverage across our country," said Adam Fox, Deputy Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.

Bennet and Kaine first introduced the Medicare-X Choice Act in 2017.

Medicare-X plans would cover essential health benefits like other qualified health plans, including maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, and mental and behavioral health care. The plan expands on these benefits by covering primary care services without any cost-sharing for plan holders. A 2022 report from the Urban Institute showed that Medicare-X would reduce the number of uninsured people by 1.1 million, would save households $10.9 billion, and would cut spending on health care by $456 billion over a ten year period.

In addition to Bennet and Kaine, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) co-sponsored this bill.

The bill text is available HERE. A summary is available HERE.