2023 -- S 0797
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LC002598
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES
Introduced By: Senators Miller, DiMario, Sosnowski, Ciccone, DiPalma, Murray,
Pearson, and Lawson
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18.2 of the General Laws entitled "Medicare Supplement 1
Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
27-18.2-3.2. Medicare Part B special enrollment period for end of federal health 3
emergency. 4
(a) This section shall apply to any individual Medicare supplement policy and to any group 5
Medicare supplement policy issued to a group of which an individual had privileges associated 6
with group membership. 7
(b) A carrier that issues Medicare supplement policies in the State of Rhode Island shall 8
issue any Medicare supplement policy that the carrier sells in the state to an individual eligible for 9
Medicare if the individual: 10
(1) Is enrolled in Medicare Part B while enrolled in the Rhode Island medical assistance 11
program; 12
(2) Remained in the Rhode Island medical assistance program due to a suspension of 13
termination by the Rhode Island medical assistance program during a state of emergency and was 14
not disenrolled or terminated until at least six (6) months following the effective date of enrollment 15
in Medicare Part B; 16
(3) Applies for the Medicare supplement policy during the sixty-three (63) day period 17
following the later of notice of termination or disenrollment or the date of termination from the 18
Rhode Island medical assistance program; and 19
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(4) Submits evidence of the date of termination or disenrollment from the Rhode Island 1
medical assistance program with the application for the Medicare supplement policy. 2
(c) With respect to an individual described in this section, a carrier shall not: 3
(1) Deny or place a condition of the issuance or effectiveness of a Medicare supplement 4
policy that is offered and is available for issuance to new enrollees by the carrier; 5
(2) Discriminate on the pricing of a Medicare supplement policy because of health status, 6
claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition; or 7
(3) Impose an exclusion of benefits based on a preexisting condition under a Medicare 8
supplement policy. 9
(d) This section shall sunset on December 31, 2025. 10
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage and sunset on December 31, 2025. 11
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES
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This act would provide a special enrollment period for applicants for Medicare Part B. This 1
act would also prohibit state insurance carriers from denying or imposing conditions on new 2
enrollees or discriminate on price based upon health status, claims experience or preexisting 3
conditions. 4
This act would take effect upon passage and sunset on December 31, 2025. 5
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