Americans aged 55 to 65 are one of the most difficult populations to insure. They have less access to, and a greater risk of losing, employer-based health insurance, and are much more likely to have health problems. Many lose their coverage when they lose their jobs due to company downsizing or plant closings. Some lose their employer-based health insurance when their spouse becomes eligible for Medicare. Still others lose insurance when their retiree health coverage is dropped unexpectedly.

These older Americans are often left to buy into the individual insurance market, which can be prohibitively expensive and unavailable for many older Americans.

Democrats are working to create new health insurance options for older Americans. Democrats want to allow older Americans who have lost their jobs, whose employers have dropped their retiree health benefits, or who have lost their insurance coverage, to buy into the Medicare program.