To President Biden, and the Hon. U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives of the 117th Congress:

We urge you to support legislative efforts to expand Medicare by lowering the age of eligibility from 65 to 60. By doing so, you can improve the health and quality of life for ourselves and/or our loved ones — and millions of Americans.

These are just some of the multitude of benefits that expansion would bring:

• Up to 23 million Americans could access Medicare coverage, including an estimated 1.7 million people ages 60-64 who currently have no insurance.

• Health care costs would go down significantly for people ages 60-64 when the Medicare eligibility age is lowered to include this group.

• Businesses and employers that provide employee health care would save overall premium costs by 15 percent.

• The 3.2 million Americans ages 60-64 who currently purchase their own insurance, and often pay among the highest rates, may be able to save significant money to put toward other health or quality of life services.

• Lower health care costs for hospital services, where uninsured people are often charged the highest prices.

Lowering the Medicare eligibility age is not just the right thing to do for Americans’ health, it’s also popular. Eighty-five percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Republicans favor allowing those 50 and up to access Medicare.  

The reasons for this popularity are clear: Many of us have seen first- or second-hand how the ability to access health care when needed — without worrying about going broke — allows people to be healthier and live fuller, more active and more productive lives.

Others of us have seen how Americans delay care, thus experiencing poorer quality of life — all because high unaffordable costs are a major barrier to care for them and for too many Americans. One in 10 adults, Black and Latino/Hispanic people, sicker and older Americans, and lower-income and uninsured people are delaying care because of unaffordable costs. And the number of people who put off health care because of costs has gone up in recent years.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has only underscored how catastrophic tying health care access to employment can be. Even as many Americans return to work, those aged 60 to 64 can struggle to secure positions, particularly those that offer insurance.

Expanding Medicare would help these and many Americans live more comfortably, with dignity and better health. For these reasons, we urge you to support expanding Medicare to people ages 60-64. By expanding Medicare for these millions of Americans, you can improve and save lives, reduce overall health care costs, and strengthen our country for our seniors and our families.