Urges Congress and President to enact "Bridging Relief in Delayed Government Enrollment for Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Act of 2025."

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Aura Dunn and 1 co-sponsor

Urge Congress to pass a federal policy removing waiting periods for SSDI and Medicare for people diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease to ensure immediate benefits.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee

Overview

Topic: A New Jersey Assembly resolution urging federal action on a proposed federal bill, the Bridging Relief in Delayed Government Enrollment for Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2025.

Status: Introduced May 7, 2026; referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee.

Sponsors: Co-sponsors Aura Dunn and Greg Myhre.

Purpose and Intent

Primary aim: Urge Congress and the President to enact the federal act that would remove waiting periods for disability insurance benefits and Medicare coverage for individuals diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (YOAD) before age 65.

Rationale: Reduce delays in access to essential medical care and interventions that can slow disease progression, thereby benefiting patients and easing burdens on families and caregivers.

Key Provisions and Changes Proposed

Legislative target: Amend the federal Social Security Act.

Benefit timing: Eliminate the current waiting periods for:

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Medicare coverage

Applicability: Specifically focused on individuals diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (before age 65).

Who Is Affected

Primary beneficiaries: Individuals diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (ages under 65).

Secondary beneficiaries: Families and caregivers, who would experience reduced caregiving stress and potential financial hardship due to earlier access to benefits.

Indirect impact: Potentially accelerates access to early medical interventions and services funded by Medicare and SSDI.

Timing and Procedural Elements

Legislative action requested: The bill urges Congress and the President to enact the act.

New Jersey action: The resolution expresses the state Legislature’s formal position and requests federal action; it does not itself create or modify state law or funding.

Communication: Requires transmission of resolutions to federal leaders and speakers of Congress, as well as all U.S. Senators and Representatives elected from New Jersey.

Additional Context

Statistics cited: Approximately 1 in 1,000 Americans aged 30–64 are affected by YOAD; about 200,000 individuals with YOAD face vulnerabilities due to delays in access to government-backed health coverage.

Policy goal: Ensure timely health coverage to enable early interventions that could slow disease progression and reduce long-term burdens on patients, families, and the healthcare system.

Summary

This bill is a state-level urging measure that pushes federal lawmakers to enact a nationwide policy eliminating waiting periods for SSDI and Medicare for individuals diagnosed with Young-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, aiming to provide immediate access to benefits and care upon diagnosis. It highlights potential benefits for patients, families, and caregivers and cites specific demographic and medical urgency to justify federal action.