Bill Overview
Title: First Responders’ Care Expansion Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides for Medicare coverage of first responders between the ages of 57 and 64 who do not otherwise already qualify for Medicare.
Sponsors: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20]
Target Audience
Population: First responders aged 57 to 64 who are not eligible for Medicare
Estimated Size: 150000
- First responders include police, fire, and emergency medical personnel who are crucial in emergency situations.
- The bill specifically targets first responders aged 57 to 64.
- First responders in this age range may not currently qualify for Medicare, possibly due to age constraints.
- Global estimates of first responders vary, with millions active worldwide.
- Estimating the target population globally involves understanding the global workforce of first responders and the demographic distribution of age.
Reasoning
- The target population for this simulation consists of first responders between the ages of 57 to 64 who do not already qualify for Medicare.
- The $1.5 billion USD budget for the first year must serve approximately 150,000 people, translating to around $10,000 USD per person in the first year.
- This policy could significantly improve healthcare access for older first responders, who may face higher health risks after years in high-risk jobs.
- Not all individuals in this age and job category will need equally extensive medical care, resulting in variability in the level of impact.
- Including perspectives of those not directly impacted helps understand the broader societal sentiment and indirect effects.
- We account for a diverse range of job roles within first responders to reflect the actual working conditions and health challenges.
Simulated Interviews
Firefighter (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy would relieve my health care burden, as it's currently a major expense.
- Having Medicare coverage would mean more access to preventive services, which is important with my past job's physical demands.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Paramedic (Houston, TX)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I currently have employer-provided healthcare, Medicare coverage would provide a sense of security for my upcoming retirement.
- It's a great initiative for those who may not have savings put away for health issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Police Officer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Paying out-of-pocket medical expenses is a struggle.
- If this policy is implemented, I can afford better treatments and follow-ups for my existing conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Firefighter (Miami, FL)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been delaying treatments due to cost.
- This policy would greatly reduce my anxiety about healthcare availability and affordability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 1 |
Emergency Medical Technician (New York, NY)
Age: 57 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The transition to Medicare would make my upcoming retirement seamless.
- Healthcare costs currently eat into my savings; this would help preserve my nest egg.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Police Officer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a timely policy for someone in my situation needing regular healthcare.
- It provides a buffer until I can access full Medicare benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Firefighter (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've needed to pay for my medication through loans.
- Getting Medicare early would truly help with financial and health pressures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Paramedic (Seattle, WA)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy wouldn't change much for me right now due to my spouse’s health coverage, but it's a fantastic safety net.
- Great for single income households or those without backup plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Firefighter (Denver, CO)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Medical debt has been a huge stressor since my injury.
- This policy can save many from losing everything during their transition to retirement age.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Police Officer (Boston, MA)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having Medicare would be nice, but my current coverage is satisfactory.
- This initiative is crucial for many of my colleagues who retired without plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1350000000, High: $1650000000)
Year 2: $1530000000 (Low: $1377000000, High: $1683000000)
Year 3: $1560600000 (Low: $1404540000, High: $1716660000)
Year 5: $1620416400 (Low: $1458374760, High: $1722458040)
Year 10: $1750266762 (Low: $1575240086, High: $1925293437)
Year 100: $3393010853 (Low: $3053709767, High: $3732211939)
Key Considerations
- The aging population of first responders requires more healthcare services as they approach retirement age.
- First responders may face unique health challenges due to their service which could increase healthcare costs.
- The integration with existing Medicare systems needs to be seamless to prevent administrative delays.