The savings in employer plans would come from employers covering fewer older adults, who tend to have higher health care spending than younger enrollees. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60 could significantly reduce health spending for employers but shift costs to taxpayers and increase Medicare program expenditures overall, according to two new studies by KFF.
Medicare currently offers health insurance coverage to more than 60 million Americans ages 65 and older and younger adults with long-term disabilities. During the presidential campaign, President Biden proposed to lower Medicare's eligibility age from 65 to 60, along with other policies to address health insurance coverage and affordability. Although many details are unknown, the proposal potentially would allow millions of adults to switch from non-group or employer plans to Medicare.
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