Early Medicare Access and Affordability Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-3189
Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6]
Introduced: 2003-09-25 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Access to health care
Coinsurance
Congress
Congressional information resources
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Dislocated workers
Early retirement
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Families
Finance and Financial Sector
Government trust funds
Health care fraud
Health insurance
Health insurance continuation
Insurance premiums
Labor and Employment
Married people
Medicaid
Medical economics
Medicare
Retiree health benefits
Social Welfare

Summary:
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Early Medicare Access and Affordability Act of 2003 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals Age 62-to-65 Years of Age) (Medicare buy-in) entitling to the same Medicare benefits as an individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) an enrolled individual age 62 to 65 who: (1) would be eligible for such benefits if 65; but (2) is not eligible for benefits under a Federal health insurance program or a group health plan. 
Provides for monthly premiums, and creates the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold them.
Amends SSA title XVIII to provide access to Medicare benefits to displaced workers age 55-to-62 and their spouses.
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation benefits for certain retired workers who lose retiree health coverage. 
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require State Medicaid plans to provide for Federal Medicare-cost sharing premium assistance for certain low-income individuals enrolled under the part D program.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-10-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-09-25
text: Introduced in House