Critical gaps remain for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease disease seeking treatment and care. To address these gaps, Congress has introduced the BRIDGING Relief in Delayed Government Enrollment (BRIDGE) for Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act (H.R. 6799). This legislation could fundamentally change access to care for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before age 65.
Today, individuals with young onset (<65 years of age) Alzheimer’s typically face a 29-month wait for Medicare coverage for new amyloid-targeting treatments, after being determined eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance. During that time, the disease progression continues and may render many of these patients no longer appropriate for treatment with the new FDA-approved therapies, which are approved only for “early disease stages.” These delays in coverage often mean lost opportunities for care, mounting financial stress, and unnecessary suffering for families who are already carrying tremendous burden.
The BRIDGE Act aims to eliminate the waiting period and give people with young onset Alzheimer’s immediate Medicare coverage when they qualify for disability. Individuals interested in signing a letter urging lawmakers to support this bill can add their name here:
