A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Medicare at Home Act" seeks to amend the Social Security Act to create a new Medicare home care benefit. This benefit would cover services like assistance with daily living activities and certain household tasks. To qualify, individuals must be entitled to Medicare benefits and have a physician certify their need for assistance. The law specifies that these services are limited to 20 hours per week. It also establishes that the Secretary must create a payment method that includes a reasonable wage floor for workers. The Act includes provisions for adjusting premiums to cover the costs of this new benefit.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits seniors by providing much-needed home care assistance via Medicare.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill creates a new benefit that directly assists retirees with daily living needs.
- Scored +7
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill provides essential assistance for people with disabilities to live at home.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Support for Daily Living: The bill establishes "home care services" which include assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as instrumental activities like meal preparation and medication reminders (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Ability to Age at Home: The bill finds that a capped benefit would allow older adults and people with disabilities to remain safely in their homes and communities (Section 2(5)).
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Relief for Caregivers: The establishment of this benefit would take pressure off unpaid family caregivers who currently provide significant unpaid care to the economy (Section 2(5)).
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Fair Wages for Workers: The Secretary is required to establish a payment methodology that reflects a "reasonable wage floor" for home care workers (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Time Restrictions on Care: The law limits home care services to no more than 20 hours per week per individual (Section 3(a)(2)(A) and Section 5).
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Increased Costs for Beneficiaries: The Secretary is directed to adjust monthly premiums under the Social Security Act to reflect the additional costs of this new benefit (Section 6(a)).
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Service Exclusions: The new home care services are explicitly separate from and do not include existing home health services (Section 3(a)(2)(B)).
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Eligibility Restrictions: Individuals are not eligible for these services if they are already receiving duplicate long-term services and supports through a State Medicaid plan (Section 4(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill creates a new benefit that directly assists retirees with daily living needs. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill directly benefits seniors by providing much-needed home care assistance via Medicare. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides essential assistance for people with disabilities to live at home.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill provides new access to essential daily living and home care services for Medicare beneficiaries. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare coverage to include a new home care benefit.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill provides critical home care support to help people with disabilities live independently. Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill expands Medicare benefits, which is a key component of the social safety net.
- 8/5/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.