H.R. 10726: Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Coverage Act of 2026

This bill would create a new Medicare buy-in option for certain people with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

What the new option would do

Under the bill, a person diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease could enroll in Medicare even if they are younger than 65, as long as they would otherwise qualify for Medicare at age 65. The bill says these individuals would receive the same basic Medicare protections and benefits as people enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B, and D. That includes the ability to join a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

Who would be eligible

To use this buy-in, a person would need to meet two conditions:

• They must have been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, as defined by the Social Security Commissioner.
• They must not already be eligible for Medicare Part A or Part B, except that they would be eligible if they were 65 years old.

When coverage would start

The bill would give eligible individuals a 3-month enrollment window that starts on the first day of the month after they are first diagnosed. Coverage would begin on the first day of the month after they enroll.

Premiums and costs

People who enroll under this option would still have to pay the normal premiums that would apply under Medicare Parts A, B, and D, as if they were 65 and enrolled in those programs. The bill does not say that coverage would be free; rather, it allows eligible people to buy into Medicare under the usual premium rules.

Medigap coverage

The bill would also make these enrollees eligible for Medigap, or Medicare supplemental insurance, if they apply within 6 months of enrolling in the new buy-in option. It would require each Medicare supplemental insurer in a state to make at least one such policy available to these individuals. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to ask the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to update Medigap standards to fit this new coverage category.

Other Medicare rules

The bill states that nothing in it would change Medicare or Medicaid eligibility for anyone else. It also requires HHS to update public Medicare materials, such as Medicare & You and Welcome to Medicare, within 30 days of enactment to explain the new option.

Relevant Companies

• HUM — Humana could be affected because it offers Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans that eligible individuals could join.
• CVS — CVS, through Aetna, could be affected through Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollment changes.
• UNH — UnitedHealth Group could be affected because its UnitedHealthcare business offers Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage.
• CNC — Centene could be affected through its Medicare-related insurance operations and prescription drug plans.
• CI — Cigna could be affected through its Medicare Advantage and Part D-related insurance offerings.