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S. 4583119th CongressIn committeeLatest action May 20, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Legalizing Premium Health Care Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
The Legalizing Premium Health Care Act of 2026 lets doctors and Medicare patients agree to charge above Medicare's rates.
40-second read · 4 questions answered below
This bill would let doctors and Medicare patients sign private contracts setting whatever price they agree on for a service, while the patient could still claim Medicare reimbursement at normal rates. Contracts must be written, signed in advance, and can't be made during emergencies. Doctors would keep their Medicare participation status despite these arrangements, and the bill overrides state laws capping such charges.
Medicare beneficiaries (mostly people 65+ and some with disabilities) and the doctors and licensed professionals who treat them. Dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients could not use these contracts.
Providers could charge more than Medicare's standard rates for covered services, potentially increasing patients' out-of-pocket costs, while state price-cap protections would no longer apply.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a Senate committee is reviewing it. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.