Providing benefits under the Medicare program for first responders at the age of 57

(a)

In general

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395c et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

1899C.

Medicare for first responders at age 57

(a)

Option

(1)

In general

Every individual who meets the requirements described in paragraph (2) shall be eligible to enroll under this section.(2)

Eligibility

The requirements described in this paragraph are the following:(A)

Age

The individual has attained 57 years of age, but has not attained 65 years of age.(B)

First responder

The individual has worked for a total of 10 years or longer in any occupation (or a combination of occupations) identified by any of the following codes (or successor codes) under the Standard Occupations Classification System established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:(i)33–1010.(ii)33–1020.(iii)33–2000.(iv)33–3000 (other than any occupations identified under code 33–3040).(v)33–9092.(C)

Medicare eligibility (but for age)

The individual is not otherwise entitled to benefits under part A or eligible to enroll under part A or part B but would be so entitled (or so eligible) if the individual were 65 years of age.(3)

Part A, B, and D benefits and protections

An individual enrolled under this section is entitled to the same benefits (and shall receive the same protections) under this title as an individual who is entitled to benefits under part A and enrolled under part B, including the ability to enroll in a prescription drug plan under part D or a Medicare Advantage plan (including such a plan that provides qualified prescription drug coverage (an MA–PD plan)) and including access to the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman under section 1808(c).(b)

Enrollment and coverage periods

(1)

Enrollment

An individual eligible to enroll under this section may so enroll—(A)during the 1-month period prior to the individual becoming so eligible; or(B)at any time while such individual is so eligible.(2)

Coverage

An individual enrolled under this section shall be eligible for benefits provided under this section beginning with the first day of the first month beginning after the date such individual so enrolls and ending on the earlier of the following:(A)The date on which such individual elects to terminate enrollment under this section.(B)The date on which such individual becomes entitled to benefits under part A or eligible to enroll for benefits under part B. (c)

Premium

(1)

Amount of monthly premiums

The monthly premium payable for coverage for a month under this section for an individual is equal to—(A)the monthly premium that would apply to such individual for such month under section 1839 if such individual were enrolled under part B; plus(B)in the case of an individual who would not be entitled to benefits under part A for such month pursuant to section 226 if the individual were 65 years of age, the monthly premium that would apply to such individual for such month under section 1818 if such individual were enrolled under part A. (2)

Additional premiums

In the case of an individual enrolled under this section who elects to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan under part C or a prescription drug plan under part D, the provisions of such part C or such part D, as applicable, relating to payment of premiums for individuals so enrolled shall apply to individuals enrolled under this section. (d)

Payment of premiums

(1)

Payment

Premiums for enrollment under this section shall be paid to the Secretary at such times, and in such manner, as the Secretary determines appropriate.(2)

Deposit

Amounts collected by the Secretary under this section shall be deposited in the Medicare First Responder Trust Fund established under subsection (e).(e)

Medicare First Responder Trust Fund

(1)

In general

There is hereby created on the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Medicare First Responder Trust Fund (in this subsection referred to as the Trust Fund). The Trust Fund shall consist of such gifts and bequests as may be made as provided in section 201(i)(1) and such amounts as may be deposited in, or appropriated to, such fund as provided in this title.(2)

Premiums

Premiums collected under subsection (d) (not including any premium payable pursuant to paragraph (2) of such subsection) shall be transferred to the Trust Fund.(3)

Incorporation of Provisions

Subsections (b) through (i) of section 1841 shall apply with respect to the Trust Fund and this title in the same manner as they apply with respect to the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund and part B, respectively, except that in applying such section 1841, any reference in such section to this part shall be construed to be a reference to this section and any reference in section 1841(h) to section 1840(d) and in section 1841(i) to sections 1840(b)(1) and 1842(g) are deemed to be references to comparable authority exercised under this section.(f)

Clarification

Nothing in this section shall affect the benefits or eligibility under this title of individuals who would otherwise be entitled to or eligible for benefits under this title or title XIX, or both.(g)

Treatment in relation to the Affordable Care Act

(1)

Treatment as minimum essential coverage

For purposes of applying section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the coverage provided through enrollment under this section constitutes minimum essential coverage under subsection (f)(1)(A)(i) of such section.(2)

Medicaid managed care

States are prohibited from buying their Medicaid beneficiaries ages 57 to 64 who are eligible to enroll under this section into Medicare under this section, and individuals otherwise eligible for enrollment under a State plan under title XIX are prohibited from coverage under this title pursuant to enrollment under this section. The preceding sentence shall not apply to Medicaid beneficiaries whose Medicaid coverage or eligibility does not meet the definition of minimum essential coverage under a government-sponsored program under section 1.5000A–2 of title 26, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).(3)

Access to Medigap

Coverage provided through medicare supplemental policies certified under section 1882 shall be made available to individuals eligible for enrollment pursuant to this section for enrollment, information, comparison, and otherwise as such a policy through any internet website described in paragraph (2).

(b)

Medigap

Section 1882 of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(aa)

Development of New Standards for Certain Medicare Supplemental Policies relating to first responder coverage

The Secretary shall request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to review and revise the standards for benefit packages described in subsection (p)(1), to otherwise update standards to include requirements for each medicare supplemental policy that offers such a policy in a State, with respect to each year, to accept every individual in the State who is eligible for enrollment pursuant to section 1899C and who applies for such coverage for such year if the individual applies for enrollment in such policy during the 30-day period following the date of enrollment pursuant to section 1899C and to accept every such individual during a period of transition from enrollment pursuant to such section to enrollment under this title pursuant to eligibility other than under such section. Such revisions shall be made consistent with the rules applicable under subsection (p)(1)(E) with the reference to the 1991 NAIC Model Regulation deemed a reference to the NAIC Model Regulation as published in the Federal Register on December 4, 1998, and as subsequently updated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to reflect previous changes in law and the reference to date of enactment of this subsection deemed a reference to the date of enactment of this subsection (aa).