HR3665-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act.

2. Limiting Medicare part B late enrollment penalty to 15 percent and twice the period of no enrollment The first sentence of section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amended by striking 10 percent of the monthly premium so determined for each full 12 months and inserting 15 percent of the monthly premium so determined for premiums paid during a period equal to twice the number of months in each of the full periods of 12 months. Section 1818 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–2) is amended— in subsection (c)(6), by striking and shall only apply to premiums paid during a period equal to twice the number of months in the full 12-month periods described in that section and; and in subsection (g)(2)(B), by striking by substituting and all that follows and inserting the following: by substituting section 1818 (without any increase resulting from the application of section 1839(b) to such section 1818) for section 1839 (without any increase under subsection (b) thereof).. The amendments made by this section shall apply to premiums paid for months beginning after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. In applying these amendments, months (before, during, or after the month in which this Act is enacted) in which an individual was or is required to pay an increased premium shall be taken into account in determining the month in which the premium will no longer be subject to an increase.

3. Exclusion of periods of COBRA, retiree, and VA coverage from Medicare part B late enrollment penalty The second sentence of section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395r(b)) is amended— by striking by reason of the individual’s (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment; and by inserting or months for which the individual can demonstrate that the individual had coverage under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code before the period at the end. The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to premiums paid for months beginning after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

4. Special enrollment period for individuals whose COBRA or retiree coverage terminates Section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395p(i)) is amended— in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking by reason of the individual's (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status in subparagraph (A); in the first sentence of paragraph (2) by striking by reason of the individual's (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status each place it appears in subparagraphs (B) and (C); and in paragraph (3)(A) by striking by reason of current employment status. The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to terminations of coverage occurring after the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.