Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-588
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12]
Introduced: 2015-01-28
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Medicare

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2015-01-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015</b></p> <p> Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, to repeal the allowance for disenrollment, between January 1 and March 15 of each year, only from an MedicareAdvantage plan to elect enrollment in the original Medicare fee-for-service program.</p> <p>Restores the option under previous law to elect to change from a MedicareAdvantage to the original Medicare fee-for-service plan, or from the original Medicare fee-for-service to a MedicareAdvantage plan, once a year during the first three months.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 588 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2015 Mr. Rothfus (for himself and Mr. Schrader ) 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 concerned A BILL To preserve Medicare beneficiary choice by restoring and expanding the Medicare open enrollment and disenrollment opportunities repealed by section 3204(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015 . 2. Preservation of Medicare beneficiary choice under Medicare Advantage (a) In general Section 1851(e)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(e)(2) ) is amended by amending subparagraph (C), as amended by section 3204(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( Public Law 111–148 ), to read as follows: (C) Continuous open enrollment and disenrollment for first 3 months in subsequent years (i) In general Subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (D), at any time during the first 3 months of a year, or, if the individual first becomes a Medicare Advantage eligible individual during a year, during the first 3 months of such year in which the individual is a Medicare Advantage eligible individual, a Medicare Advantage eligible individual may change the election under subsection (a)(1). (ii) Limitation of one change during open enrollment period each year An individual may exercise the right under clause (i) only once during the applicable 3-month period described in such clause in each year. The limitation under this clause shall not apply to changes in elections effected during an annual, coordinated election period under paragraph (3) or during a special enrollment period under paragraph (4). (iii) Limited application to part D The previous provisions of this subparagraph shall only apply with respect to changes in enrollment in a prescription drug plan under part D in the case of an individual who, previous to such change in enrollment, is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1860D–1(b)(1)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–101(b)(1)(B)(iii) ) is amended by striking , (C), . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to 2016 and succeeding years.