Why Not Put Congress on Medicare?

Every few months, Congress threatens to shut down the government — and every time, ordinary Americans pay the price. Workers lose paychecks, services stop, and uncertainty ripples through the economy. Meanwhile, lawmakers keep their salaries and elite insurance coverage.

So here’s a simple question: why not put Congress on Medicare — with a work requirement?

Same Coverage, No Loopholes

Members of Congress love to debate what kind of healthcare you deserve. Some call Medicare “government overreach.” Others say we can’t afford it. Fine — let them live with it firsthand.

Every Senator and Representative would be automatically enrolled in Medicare. No more special congressional plans, no private perks — and no “backdoor” options. They wouldn’t be allowed to buy private supplemental coverage.

If it’s good enough for seniors and people with disabilities, it’s good enough for the people who make the laws.

Let them experience the same wait times, billing headaches, and coverage limits as the rest of us. My guess? The system would start improving fast.

Work Requirement: Keep the Government Open

Here’s the kicker: their Medicare benefits only stay active as long as the government does.

If Congress shuts it down, their coverage — and their paychecks — stop immediately.

They’ve imposed work requirements on food assistance, unemployment, and Medicaid. They say people need “skin in the game.” Okay — let’s apply that logic where it really belongs.

If they can’t do the basic work of keeping the lights on, they don’t get paid, and they don’t get care. Simple as that.

Shared Stakes, Better Results

Imagine how quickly bipartisan deals would appear if members of Congress risked losing their own healthcare during a shutdown. Suddenly, compromise wouldn’t look so bad.

If lawmakers had to live under the same programs they legislate for the rest of us, they’d finally have an incentive to fix them — instead of using them as talking points.

Why Not?

If it’s good enough for the American people, it should be good enough for Congress.

No perks. No exemptions. No excuses.

Why not put Congress on Medicare — and make them earn it like the rest of us?