To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 15 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA, retiree, and VA coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 15 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA, retiree, and VA coverage from such late enrollment penalty. 1. Limiting Medicare part B late enrollment penalty to 15 percent and twice the period of no enrollment (a) In general The first sentence of section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395r(b) 10 percent of the monthly premium so determined for each full 12 months 15 percent of the monthly premium so determined for premiums paid during a period equal to twice the number of months in each of the full periods of 12 months (b) Conforming amendments Section 1818 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–2 (1) in subsection (c)(6), by striking and shall only apply to premiums paid during a period equal to twice the number of months in the full 12-month periods described in that section and (2) in subsection (g)(2)(B), by striking by substituting by substituting section 1818 (without any increase resulting from the application of section 1839(b) to such section 1818) section 1839 (without any increase under subsection (b) thereof) (c) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by this section shall apply to premiums paid for months beginning after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Clarification In applying these amendments, months (before, during, or after the month in which this Act is enacted) in which an individual was or is required to pay an increased premium shall be taken into account in determining the month in which the premium will no longer be subject to an increase. 2. Exclusion of periods of COBRA, retiree, and VA coverage from Medicare part B late enrollment penalty (a) In general The second sentence of section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395r(b) (1) by striking by reason of the individual’s (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment (2) by inserting or months for which the individual can demonstrate that the individual had coverage under chapter 17 (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to premiums paid for months beginning after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Special enrollment period for individuals whose COBRA or retiree coverage terminates (a) In general Section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p(i) (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking by reason of the individual's (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status (2) in the first sentence of paragraph (2) by striking by reason of the individual's (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status (3) in paragraph (3)(A) by striking by reason of current employment status (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to terminations of coverage occurring after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Summary: This bill modifies provisions relating to enrollment periods for Medicare medical services. Among other things, the bill establishes a late enrollment penalty of 15% of monthly premiums and applies the penalty for a period equal to twice the number of months in each 12-month period during which the individual was not enrolled. Currently, the late enrollment penalty is 10% of monthly premiums for each 12-month period during which the individual was not enrolled, and the penalty continues to apply for as long as the individual is enrolled in Medicare medical services. The bill also expands the special enrollment periods to individuals who have health insurance coverage other than through their employer.