Seniors’ Health Care Choice Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-1657
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11]
Introduced: 2019-03-08
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions

Health care costs and insurance

Health care coverage and access

Medicare
Latest action: action_date: 2019-03-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-03-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Seniors' Health Care Choice Act of </strong><b>2019</b></p> <p>This bill creates a special Medicare enrollment period for individuals enrolled in, or transitioning out of, continuation coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)&#8212;a federal law that allows an individual to maintain health coverage following loss of coverage due to termination of employment or another qualifying event.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1657 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 8, 2019 Mr. Smucker introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , 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 amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to facilitate the transition to Medicare for individuals enrolled in group health plans, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Seniors’ Health Care Choice Act of 2019 . 2. Facilitating transition to Medicare for individuals enrolled in group health plans (a) Special enrollment period for individuals enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage Section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p(i) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) (A) In the case of an individual who— (i) at the time the individual first satisfies paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1836, is enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage (as defined in subparagraph (D)); and (ii) has elected not to enroll (or to be deemed enrolled) under this section during the individual's initial enrollment period, there shall be a special enrollment period described in subparagraph (B). (B) The special enrollment period referred to in subparagraph (A) is the period that includes each month during any part of which the individual is enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage. (C) An individual may only enroll during the special enrollment period provided under subparagraph (B) one time during the individual's lifetime. (D) For purposes of this paragraph, the term COBRA continuation coverage means continuation coverage— (i) under a COBRA continuation provision (as defined in section 2791(d)(4) of the Public Health Service Act); (ii) pursuant to section 8905a of title 5, United States Code; or (iii) under a similar State program. . (b) Coverage period for individuals transitioning from COBRA continuation coverage Section 1838(e) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395q(e) ) is amended— (1) by striking pursuant to section 1837(i)(3) or 1837(i)(4)(B) and inserting the following: pursuant to— (1) section 1837(i)(3) or 1837(i)(4)(B)— ; (2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving the indentation of each such subparagraph 2 ems to the right; (3) by striking the period at the end of the subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, and inserting ; or ; and (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) section 1837(i)(5), the coverage period shall begin on the first day of the month following the month in which the individual so enrolls. .