Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2488
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA-12]
Introduced: 2015-05-21
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care costs and insurance

Medicare

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to expand and modify enrollment and disenrollment options for Medicare Advantage (MA) eligible individuals. Specifically, the bill extends the annual period in which an individual enrolled in MA may elect to instead receive benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) program as well as elect to change qualified prescription drug coverage. Furthermore, any MA-eligible individual (whether or not enrolled in MA) may once per period change a previous election with respect to receiving benefits through MA or Medicare FFS, including changing from one MA plan to another. Unsolicited marketing during this period is prohibited.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2488 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2015 Mr. Rothfus (for himself, Mr. Schrader , Mr. Brady of Texas , and Mrs. Brooks of Indiana ) 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Medicare beneficiary choice by restoring and expanding the Medicare open enrollment and disenrollment opportunities repealed by section 3204(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.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 Section 1851(e)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–21(e)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (C)— (A) in the heading, by inserting from 2011 through 2015 after 45-day period ; and (B) by inserting and ending with 2015 after beginning with 2011 ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) Continuous open enrollment and disenrollment for first 3 months in 2016 and subsequent years (i) In general Subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (D), at any time during the first 3 months of a year (beginning with 2016), or, if the individual first becomes a Medicare Advantage eligible individual during a year (beginning with 2016), 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 change the election pursuant to 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 Clauses (i) and (ii) 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. (iv) Limitations on marketing Pursuant to subsection (j), no unsolicited marketing or marketing materials may be sent to an individual described in clause (i) during the continuous open enrollment and disenrollment period established for the individual under such clause. .