[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 580 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 580

          To provide greater health care freedom for seniors.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2005

 Mr. Paul (for himself and Mr. Jones of North Carolina) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 
 and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period 
    to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
          To provide greater health care freedom for seniors.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Seniors' Health Care Freedom Act of 
2005''.

SEC. 2. FACILITATING THE USE OF PRIVATE CONTRACTS UNDER THE MEDICARE 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 1802(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395a(b)) is 
amended by striking paragraph (3) and by redesignating paragraphs (4) 
and (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.

SEC. 3. NO ELIGIBILITY CONDITION BASED ON REFUSAL TO PARTICIPATE IN A 
              GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.

    No persons otherwise eligible for old-age benefits under Social 
Security shall be denied such benefits because of their voluntary 
refusal to participate in any part of the Medicare program.
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