House Democrats have drafted a health policy agenda detailing plans to prioritize health costs and program expansions if the party gains a majority in the lower chamber following the November midterm elections. Party leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), stated that reversing recent changes to Medicaid and reviving Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits would be among the first items addressed in the next Congress. The 84-page document follows meetings with 139 House members and 145 stakeholder groups, including physician and hospital organizations.
The proposed agenda follows the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a Republican-led measure that included cuts to health programs. Additionally, enhanced ACA premium subsidies expired at the end of 2025, which Democrats seek to reinstate. According to KFF data, the average ACA deductible rose 37% between 2025 and 2026, an increase of over $1,000 per person, while marketplace enrollment fell 12% to 19.2 million people as of February 2026.
Key components of the Democratic plan include reversing Medicaid work requirements scheduled to begin in 2027 and capping total healthcare costs at 8% of a household's income. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), who would lead the Budget Committee in a Democratic majority, said he intends to reverse every healthcare cut contained in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) said the Ways and Means Committee would examine expanding federal funding for long-term care, while Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) indicated the Energy and Commerce Committee would oversee challenges to administration vaccine policies and restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone.
The plan also signals a shift in regulatory focus toward large healthcare conglomerates. The agenda proposes reining in corporate monopolies and regulating vertically integrated companies, specifically naming UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health as targets for oversight. This follows a February 2026 bipartisan bill introduced by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) aimed at breaking up large insurance conglomerates. Additionally, the plan includes workforce-related changes such as reversing declining Medicare physician pay, removing caps on nursing student loans, and expanding the rural health fund, which is currently scheduled to disburse $10 billion annually through 2030.
Implementation of this agenda faces a primary obstacle, as President Trump remains in office for the duration of the next Congress, giving him veto power over any legislation passed by a potential Democratic majority. However, Democratic leaders suggested these priorities could be used as leverage during government spending negotiations, similar to the 43-day government shutdown that occurred last year over ACA subsidies. While the agenda stops short of endorsing a "Medicare for All" system, it would serve as a framework for the party's platform heading into the 2028 presidential cycle. If voters return a Democratic majority in the House on January 3, 2027, the caucus plans to introduce these measures as their first order of business.