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Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act

USA119th CongressHR-9054| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
Adriano Espaillat

Adriano Espaillat

Democratic Representative

New York

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act," establishes a 10-year demonstration program under Medicare to allow eligible beneficiaries to apply their Medicare benefits to coverage of health care items, services, premiums, and other cost-sharing within the health insurance systems of other countries. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with implementing this program within one year of enactment. Its primary goals include increasing the quality of care for participating beneficiaries, decreasing the cost of care to the government, enabling beneficiaries to reunify with family members , and reducing strain on the United States' medical infrastructure. The program will initially select at least 11 distinct nations or political subdivisions, including Canada, Germany, India, Israel, South Korea, the Philippines, Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana. An "Applicable Beneficiary" is defined as an individual entitled to Medicare Parts A and B who intends to relocate or has recently relocated to a Selected Country, or is a resident of a Selected Country for whom Medicare is the primary payor. Participation is voluntary, and beneficiaries retain access to U.S. Medicare services, with the Secretary able to cap the number of participants at no less than 150,000. Payments made to or on behalf of beneficiaries for foreign health care costs will be limited to ensure they do not exceed what equivalent services would cost in the United States. The Secretary may administer the program, in part or exclusively, through Medicare Advantage Organizations . The bill mandates annual evaluations to assess the program's effectiveness in achieving its stated purposes and requires recommendations to Congress for potential expansion. Provisions for addressing waste, fraud, and abuse, including mandatory training for participating physicians, are also included.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5299
Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act
May 29, 2026
Introduced in House
May 29, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5299
    Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act


  • May 29, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act

USA119th CongressHR-9054| House 
| Updated: 5/29/2026
This bill, titled the "Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act," establishes a 10-year demonstration program under Medicare to allow eligible beneficiaries to apply their Medicare benefits to coverage of health care items, services, premiums, and other cost-sharing within the health insurance systems of other countries. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with implementing this program within one year of enactment. Its primary goals include increasing the quality of care for participating beneficiaries, decreasing the cost of care to the government, enabling beneficiaries to reunify with family members , and reducing strain on the United States' medical infrastructure. The program will initially select at least 11 distinct nations or political subdivisions, including Canada, Germany, India, Israel, South Korea, the Philippines, Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Ghana. An "Applicable Beneficiary" is defined as an individual entitled to Medicare Parts A and B who intends to relocate or has recently relocated to a Selected Country, or is a resident of a Selected Country for whom Medicare is the primary payor. Participation is voluntary, and beneficiaries retain access to U.S. Medicare services, with the Secretary able to cap the number of participants at no less than 150,000. Payments made to or on behalf of beneficiaries for foreign health care costs will be limited to ensure they do not exceed what equivalent services would cost in the United States. The Secretary may administer the program, in part or exclusively, through Medicare Advantage Organizations . The bill mandates annual evaluations to assess the program's effectiveness in achieving its stated purposes and requires recommendations to Congress for potential expansion. Provisions for addressing waste, fraud, and abuse, including mandatory training for participating physicians, are also included.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-5299
Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act
May 29, 2026
Introduced in House
May 29, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-5299
    Earned Benefits Equality and Family Reunification Act


  • May 29, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • May 29, 2026
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Adriano Espaillat

Adriano Espaillat

Democratic Representative

New York

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted