Senate Democrat proposes universal health care for children

Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) on Tuesday unveiled a proposal for all American children to receive Medicare, a program he’s dubbed MediKids, saying Democrats must bring new ideas to move the conversation on healthcare forward.

Kim’s MediKids Act would automatically enroll every child into the program at birth, provide continued eligibility until the age of 26 and cover 100 percent of the federal medical assistance percentage for this cohort.

The New Jersey senator said he has been thinking about this since the birth of his son in 2017, when doctors warned he could be born with serious medical complications. Kim noted his child, now 9 years old, is healthy and thriving.

“I want it to get out there because I know that there’s overwhelming support from the American people for ideas like this, and there’s a hunger for ideas right now,” Kim told reporters, saying Democrats cannot leave an “idea vacuum” while also opposing the Trump administration’s actions.

“We do have to put forward our own solutions, our own vision, to be able to energize and inspire the American people,” he said.

Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla (Calif.), Cory Booker (N.J.) and Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) are co-sponsors of the bill. Kim says conversations with Republicans are just now starting.

In recent years, childhood uninsurance rates have risen, going from 5.1 percent to 6 percent between 2022 and 2024, the highest it’s been in a decade.

“There are about 4.5 million kids in this country that do not have health care. That’s a lot of a lot of kids,” said Kim. “One in out of every three kids in this country are underinsured, which is that they do not have health insurance that covers their needs. So we’re talking 23 million underinsured, 4.5 million no health insurance at all.”

The program, in Kim’s vision, will not be mandatory and families can opt out of it if they wish. He acknowledged this proposal is one that will likely have to wait until Democrats have the White House again.

Kim said he does see this proposal as a “steppingstone” toward universal healthcare.

Since the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits expired last year, outside groups have begun coming forward with their proposals to transform healthcare, with ideas like “Medicare by Choice” and nonprofit public options being presented.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.