Senator Markey has fought to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid benefits for the most vulnerable in society: seniors, low-income families, and the disabled. Markey authored a provision in the Affordable Care Act called Independence at Home, a program that provides seniors the option of receiving primary care services in the comfort of their own home. Each patient has a team of health care providers that is responsible for coordinating their care, helping seniors avoid trips to the emergency room, avoidable hospitalizations, and fragmented or confusing treatment. The Independence at Home program began in 2012 and is available to thousands of seniors nationwide.

Markey also has fought to protect Medicaid – known as MassHealth in Massachusetts – from budget cuts, arguing that Medicaid is already an extremely lean and efficient program.