Rep. Schneider Introduces Bill To Extend Pre-Existing Condition Protections to Medicare Supplemental Insurance

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced new legislation to extend pre-existing condition protections to cover Medicare supplemental insurance.

Under current law, many Medicare beneficiaries enroll in supplemental Medicare plans, also known as "Medigap" coverage sold by private insurance to help cover deductibles, copays and other health care expenses. These plans are not covered by Affordable Care Act pre-existing conditions protections. Anyone under 65 enrolling in Medicare (for example persons with disabilities), or switching from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare, can be underwritten or denied a supplemental plan because they are sick.

H.R. 4676, the Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, would extend the Affordable Care Act's guaranteed issue of a policy without underwriting to these plans. Specifically, it would guarantee issue of a Medigap plan to Medicare beneficiaries under 65 and allow Medicare Advantage enrollees switching to Medicare Traditional a one-time enrollment in a Medigap plan.

"The strong protections preventing insurance companies from blocking coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions were a major step forward in the Affordable Care Act, and are one of the most popular provisions in the law," said Schneider. "Individuals enrolling in Medigap coverage should have access to those same important protections. I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure Medicare beneficiaries are not denied coverage or charged higher premiums based on their pre-existing conditions."

Schneider spoke about this legislation at this week's House Committee on Ways and Means hearing on the rising cost of prescription drugs. Watch online.