Jack Reynolds Memory Medigap Expansion Act
Bill: H.R.1676 | Sponsor: Rep. Axne, Cynthia (D-IA)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Jack Reynolds Memory MediGap Expansion
This bill expands guaranteed issue rights with respect to Medigap policies (Medicare supplemental health insurance policies) to all beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease. (Guaranteed issue rights require that a policy be offered to any eligible applicant without regard to health status.)

To amend title XVIII to provide for certain Medigap coverage for 
  Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Jack Reynolds Memory Medigap 
Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. MEDIGAP COVERAGE FOR BENEFICIARIES WITH END-STAGE RENAL 
              DISEASE.

    (a) Guaranteed Availability of Medigap Policies to All ESRD 
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)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``is 
                        65'' and all that follows through the period at 
                        the end and inserting the following: ``is--
                            ``(i) 65 years of age or older and is 
                        enrolled for benefits under part B; or
                            ``(ii) is entitled to benefits under 
                        226A(b) and is enrolled for benefits under part 
                        B.''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), in the matter 
                        preceding clause (i), by inserting ``(or is 
                        entitled to benefits under 226A(b))'' after 
                        ``is 65 years of age or older''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)(B)--
                            (i) in clause (ii), by inserting ``(or is 
                        entitled to benefits under 226A(b))'' after 
                        ``is 65 years of age or older''; and
                            (ii) in clause (vi), by inserting ``(or 
                        under 226A(b))'' after ``at age 65''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply to Medicare supplemental policies effective on or 
        after January 1, 2022.
    (b) Additional Enrollment Period for Certain Individuals.--
            (1) One-time enrollment period.--
                    (A) In general.--In the case of an individual 
                described in paragraph (2), the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services shall establish a one-time enrollment 
                period during which such an individual may enroll in 
                any Medicare supplemental policy under section 1882 of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395ss) of the 
                individual's choosing.
                    (B) Enrollment period.--The enrollment period 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall begin on 
                January 1, 2022, and shall end June 30, 2022.
            (2) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
        paragraph is an individual who--
                    (A) is entitled to hospital insurance benefits 
                under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act 
                under section 226A(b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 426-1(b));
                    (B) is enrolled for benefits under part B of such 
                title XVIII; and
                    (C) would not, but for the provisions of, and 
                amendments made by, subsection (a) 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)).

SEC. 3. ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE TO RETAIN ACCESS TO 
              PRIVATE INSURANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1862(b)(1)(C) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(1)(C)) is amended--
            (1) in the last sentence, by inserting ``and before January 
        1, 2021'' after ``prior to such date''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
        ``Effective for items and services furnished on or after 
        January 1, 2021 (with respect to periods beginning on or after 
        the date that is 42 months prior to such date), clauses (i) and 
        (ii) shall be applied by substituting `42-month' for `12-month' 
        each place it appears.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this subsection shall 
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act. For purposes of 
determining an individual's status under section 1862(b)(1)(C) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395y(b)(1)(C)), as amended by 
subsection (a), an individual who is within the coordinating period as 
of the date of enactment of this Act shall have that period extended to 
the full 42 months described in the last sentence of such section, as 
added by the amendment made by subsection (a)(2).
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