Jefferson Reporter

Representative Gary Palmer has reintroduced the Retirement Freedom Act, a legislative proposal aimed at enabling seniors to make healthcare decisions without losing their Social Security benefits. The bill, previously introduced in the 118th Congress, seeks to decouple Social Security from Medicare, allowing seniors to maintain private insurance if they choose.

“Under current law, seniors are unable to make healthcare decisions for themselves. This is completely unacceptable and why I reintroduced the Retirement Freedom Act,” said Rep. Palmer. “People should not be forced to give up their private insurance because their Social Security is being held hostage. Thankfully, this bill would decouple Social Security from Medicare and allow senior citizens to be empowered to take more control over their own medical decisions.”

The act responds to changes made by the Biden-Harris administration, which revoked an executive order linking Social Security benefits to Medicare enrollment. Currently, seniors must enroll in Medicare Part A or risk losing Social Security benefits, a situation Palmer describes as an “overreach by the Social Security Administration and a serious restriction on seniors' freedom of choice in their healthcare.”

The outcome of this legislative effort will determine whether seniors can retain their private insurance without forfeiting their Social Security benefits.