MarketWatch
A new bill would cap Medicare enrollees’ annual expenses at $5,000 — and could cost the government ‘tens of billions’
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Title: New bill proposes $5,000 annual cap on Medicare enrollees' out-of-pocket expenses
Summary: The proposed legislation would establish a uniform cost limit for Medicare beneficiaries.
A proposed bill would limit annual out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare enrollees to $5,000. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries face varying cost-sharing requirements depending on their coverage type. Congressional Budget Office estimates indicate the measure would require federal spending in the tens of billions of dollars annually. The bill would apply the cap uniformly across all Medicare enrollment categories. Lawmakers differ on whether the fiscal impact justifies the expansion of cost protections.