Today, Republicans control the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and the White House, and the idea of Republicans joining with Democrats to pass a Medicare Advantage bill may fanciful.
But Democrats had the same level of control in Washington as recently as Jan. 2, 2023. Even today, Republicans and Democrats sometimes join together to pass health bills.
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., provided food for thought Tuesday by introducing a large collection of short, easy-to-understand Medicare Advantage bills.
The Medicare Advantage program, the federally regulated program the bills would affect, fills in many of the big gaps in "original Medicare" coverage for 35 million of the 69 million Medicare enrollees. Program plans look like alternatives to original Medicare, often provide extra benefits, free enrollees from many of the deductibles and coinsurance requirements included in original Medicare.
The program is separate from the Medicare supplement insurance program, which lets private insurers help fill in the gaps in original Medicare by selling standardized insurance policies that are regulated by the states.
For a look at seven of the Pocan bills, ranked based on an analysis about which ones seem most difficult and easiest to pass, see the gallery accompanying this article.
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis. Courtesy photo. Slide images: Chris Nicholls/Touchpoint Markets
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