[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4789 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4789

   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an 
 option for any citizen or permanent resident of the United States to 
                           buy into Medicare.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 9, 2010

   Mr. Grayson (for himself, Mr. Filner, Mr. Polis of Colorado, Ms. 
    Pingree of Maine, Ms. Shea-Porter, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Frank of 
 Massachusetts, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Ms. Watson, and 
  Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for an 
 option for any citizen or permanent resident of the United States to 
                           buy into Medicare.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Option Act'' or the 
``Medicare You Can Buy Into Act''.

SEC. 2. UNIVERSAL MEDICARE BUY-IN OPTION.

    (a) In General.--Part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
is amended--
            (1) in section 1818(a), by striking ``or 1818A'' and 
        inserting ``, 1818A, or 1818B''; and
            (2) by inserting after section 1818A the following new 
        section:

                           ``universal buy-in

    ``Sec. 1818B. 
    ``(a) In General.--(a) Every individual who--
            ``(1) is a resident of the United States;
            ``(2) is either (A) a citizen or national of the United 
        States, or (B) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
        residence; and
            ``(3) is not otherwise entitled to benefits under this part 
        or eligible to enroll under this part;
shall be eligible to enroll in the insurance program established by 
this part. An individual may enroll under this section only in such 
manner and form as may be prescribed in regulations, and only during an 
enrollment period prescribed in or under this section.
    ``(b) Enrollment; Coverage.--The Secretary shall establish 
enrollment periods and coverage under this section consistent with the 
principles for establishment of enrollment periods and coverage for 
individuals under section 1818, except that no entitlement to benefits 
under this part shall be effective before the first day of the first 
calendar year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    ``(c) Premiums.--
            ``(1) In general.--The provisions of subsections (d)(1), 
        (d)(2), and (d)(3) of section 1818 insofar as they apply to 
        premiums (including collection of premiums) shall apply to 
        premiums and collection of premiums under this section, except 
        that--
                    ``(A) paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 1818 shall 
                not be applicable; and
                    ``(B) the estimate of the monthly actuarial rate 
                under section 1818(d) shall be computed and applied 
                under this paragraph based upon costs incurred for 
                individuals within each age cohort specified in 
                paragraph (2) rather than for all individuals age 65 
                and older.
            ``(2) Age cohorts.--The age cohorts specified in this 
        paragraph are as follows:
                    ``(A) Individuals under 19 years of age.
                    ``(B) Individuals at least 19 years of age but not 
                more than 25 years of age.
                    ``(C) Individuals at least 26 years of age and not 
                more than 35 years of age.
                    ``(D) Individuals at least 36 years of age and not 
                more than 45 years of age.
                    ``(E) Individuals at least 46 years of age and not 
                more than 55 years of age.
                    ``(F) Individuals at least 56 years of age and not 
                more than 64 years of age.
    ``(d) Treatment.--An individual enrolled under this part pursuant 
to this section shall not be treated as enrolled under this part (or 
any other part of this title) for purposes of obtaining medical 
assistance for medicare cost-sharing or otherwise under title XIX.''.
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