Retirement Freedom Act

# Retirement Freedom Act Summary **What the bill does:** The Retirement Freedom Act would let people choose to decline Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) without having to give up their Social Security benefits. Currently, if someone wants to opt out of Medicare, they must also forfeit Social Security—a package deal. This bill separates those two programs, allowing people to keep one while refusing the other.

The bill also allows people to rejoin Medicare later without facing financial penalties. **Who it affects:** This primarily impacts Americans age 65 and older who are eligible for both Medicare and Social Security. It would give retirees more flexibility in choosing which benefits to accept, potentially appealing to those with other health insurance coverage or different healthcare preferences. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 2793, sponsored by Representative Gary Palmer of Alabama), meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. Committee review is typically the first step in the legislative process.