Special enrollment periods for Medicare supplement policies

This bill creates two special enrollment periods under Medicare supplement policies. Under the bill, an insurer offering a Medicare supplement policy may not deny coverage under the policy on the basis of health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical condition, disability, or age to a person under age 65 who is eligible for Medicare Part B during the six-month period beginning on the first day of the month in which the person first enrolls in Medicare Part B. The bill also requires every insurer offering a Medicare supplement policy to provide an annual open enrollment period during which no person who is covered under another Medicare supplement policy and no person who is under age 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B may be denied coverage under the insurer's Medicare supplement policy on the basis of a preexisting condition. In addition, the insurer may not impose on any person who obtains coverage during the annual open enrollment period any preexisting condition exclusion. The annual open enrollment period must begin and end on the same dates as the federal Medicare annual open enrollment period, also known as the annual election period.