H.R. 3665

119 HR 3665 IH: Medicare Economic Security Solutions Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-05-29
 text/xml
 EN
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 3665  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   May 29, 2025   Ms. Williams of Georgia  (for herself and  Mrs. Kim ) 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 limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 15 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA, retiree, and VA coverage from such late enrollment penalty.
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
(a)
In general
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 .
(b)
Conforming amendments
Section 1818 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–2 ) is amended—
(1)
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
(2)
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) . .
(c)
Effective date
(1)
In general
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.
(2)
Clarification
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
(a)
In general
The second sentence of section 1839(b) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395r(b) ) is amended—
(1)
by striking  by reason of the individual’s (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment ; and
(2)
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.
(b)
Effective date
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
(a)
In general
Section 1837(i) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395p(i) ) is amended—
(1)
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);
(2)
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
(3)
in paragraph (3)(A) by striking  by reason of current employment status .
(b)
Effective date
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.