117 HR 599 IH: Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions Act U.S. House of Representatives 2021-01-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 599IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJanuary 28, 2021Mr. Schneider 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 concernedA BILLTo amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the guaranteed issue of Medigap policies to all Medigap-eligible Medicare beneficiaries and Medicare Advantage enrollees, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions Act.

2.

Guaranteed issue

(a)

Guaranteed issue of Medigap policies to all Medigap-Eligible Medicare beneficiaries

(1)

In general

Section 1882(s) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)) is amended—(A)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 65 years of age or older and is enrolled for benefits under part B and inserting entitled to, or enrolled for, benefits under part A and enrolled for benefits under part B;(B)in paragraph (2)(D), by striking who is 65 years of age or older as of the date of issuance and;(C)in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking is 65 years of age or older and; and(D)in paragraph (3)(B)(vi), by striking at age 65.(2)

Effective date; phase-In authority

(A)

Effective date

Subject to subparagraph (B), the amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to medicare supplemental policies effective on or after January 1, 2023.(B)

Phase-In authority

(i)

In general

Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may phase in the implementation of the amendments made under paragraph (1) (with such phase-in beginning on or after January 1, 2023) in such manner as the Secretary determines appropriate in order to minimize any adverse impact on individuals enrolled under a medicare supplemental policy.(ii)

Phase-In period may not exceed 5 years

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall ensure that the amendments made by paragraph (1) are fully implemented by not later than January 1, 2028.(3)

Additional enrollment period for certain individuals

(A)

One-time enrollment period

(i)

In general

In the case of an individual described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall establish a one-time enrollment period during which such an individual may enroll in any medicare supplemental policy of the individual’s choosing.(ii)

Period

The enrollment period established under clause (i) shall begin on the date on which the phase-in period under paragraph (2) is completed and end 6 months after such date.(B)

Individual described

An individual described in this paragraph is an individual who—(i)is entitled to hospital insurance benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.) pursuant to section 226(b) or section 226A of such Act (42 U.S.C. 426(b); 426–1);(ii)is enrolled for benefits under part B of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395j et seq.); and(iii)would not, but for the provisions of and amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2), be eligible for the guaranteed issue of a medicare supplemental policy under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1882(s) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)).(C)

Outreach plan

(i)

In general

The Secretary shall develop an outreach plan to notify individuals described in subparagraph (B) of the one-time enrollment period established under subparagraph (A).(ii)

Consultation

In implementing the outreach plan developed under clause (i), the Secretary shall consult with consumer advocates, brokers, insurers, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs.(b)

Guaranteed issue of Medigap policies for Medicare Advantage enrollees

(1)

In general

Section 1882(s)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)(3)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—(A)in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new clause:(vii)The individual was enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan under part C for not less than 12 months and subsequently disenrolled from such plan and elects to receive benefits under this title through the original Medicare fee-for-service program under parts A and B.;(B)by striking subparagraph (C)(iii) and inserting the following:(iii)Subject to subsection (v)(1), for purposes of an individual described in clause (vi) or (vii) of subparagraph (B), a medicare supplemental policy described in this subparagraph shall include any medicare supplemental policy.; and(C)in subparagraph (E)—(i)in clause (iv), by striking and at the end;(ii)in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(iii)by adding at the end the following new clause—(vi)in the case of an individual described in subparagraph (B)(vii), the annual, coordinated election period (as defined in section 1851(e)(3)(B)) or a continuous open enrollment period (as defined in section 1851(e)(2)) during which the individual disenrolls from a Medicare Advantage plan under part C..(2)

Effective date

The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to medicare supplemental policies effective on or after January 1, 2023.