Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act

This legislation, known as the Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act, aims to significantly reform the late enrollment penalties for Medicare Part B. It proposes to limit the penalty to an increase of 15 percent of the monthly premium, which would be applied for a duration equal to twice the number of months an individual was not enrolled when eligible. This change would replace the current system where a 10 percent penalty is applied for every 12 months of delayed enrollment, often resulting in a lifelong penalty. Furthermore, the bill seeks to exclude periods when individuals had other qualifying health coverage from contributing to the late enrollment penalty calculation. Specifically, it would ensure that months covered by COBRA, retiree health plans, or VA coverage are not counted against an individual. The legislation also establishes a special enrollment period for those whose COBRA or retiree coverage terminates, removing the previous requirement that such coverage be tied to current employment status to qualify for a special enrollment period.