Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2516 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R9301 SCF-D
2	2	By: Guillen H.B. No. 2516
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the eligibility of certain individuals younger than 65
10	10	years of age to purchase Medicare supplement benefit plans.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1652, Insurance Code, is
13	13	amended by adding Sections 1652.059 and 1652.060 to read as
14	14	follows:
15	15	Sec. 1652.059. COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS YOUNGER
16	16	THAN 65. (a) In this section, "entity" means an entity that
17	17	delivers or issues for delivery a Medicare supplement benefit plan
18	18	in this state.
19	19	(b) An entity that offers coverage under a Medicare
20	20	supplement benefit plan to individuals 65 years of age or older must
21	21	offer the same coverage to individuals younger than 65 years of age
22	22	who are eligible for and enrolled in Medicare by reason of
23	23	disability or end stage renal disease.
24	24	(c) Except as otherwise provided by rules adopted under
25	25	Section 1652.051, any benefit, protection, policy, or procedure
26	26	applicable to coverage under a plan for an individual 65 years of
27	27	age or older must apply to coverage offered under Subsection (b).
28	28	(d) An entity shall offer a plan under Subsection (b) at the
29	29	same premium rate charged for that plan to an individual 65 years of
30	30	age.
31	31	Sec. 1652.060. OPEN AND SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIODS FOR
32	32	CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS YOUNGER THAN 65. (a) In this section, "entity"
33	33	means an entity that delivers or issues for delivery a Medicare
34	34	supplement benefit plan in this state.
35	35	(b) An individual eligible for coverage under a Medicare
36	36	supplement benefit plan under Section 1652.059 may enroll any time
37	37	during:
38	38	(1) the six-month period beginning the first day of
39	39	the first month the individual becomes enrolled for benefits under
40	40	Medicare Part B;
41	41	(2) a 60-day open enrollment period each year
42	42	beginning on the date of the individual's birth; or
43	43	(3) a special enrollment period designated by the
44	44	commissioner.
45	45	(c) During an enrollment period, an entity may not:
46	46	(1) deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of
47	47	a Medicare supplement benefit plan or certificate that the entity
48	48	offers and is available for issuance in this state;
49	49	(2) subject an applicant to medical underwriting or
50	50	discriminate in the price of a Medicare supplement benefit plan or
51	51	certificate because of the applicant's health status, claims
52	52	experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition; or
53	53	(3) impose an exclusion of benefits based on an
54	54	applicant's preexisting condition.
55	55	(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
56	56	administer this section, including rules designating enrollment
57	57	periods.
58	58	SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
59	59	a Medicare supplement benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery,
60	60	or renewed on or after September 1, 2025.
61	61	SECTION 3. In addition to other enrollment periods provided
62	62	by law, an individual younger than 65 years of age and enrolled in
63	63	Medicare Part B by reason of disability or end stage renal disease
64	64	on the effective date of this Act may apply for coverage under a
65	65	Medicare supplement benefit plan:
66	66	(1) after August 31, 2025, and before March 2, 2026; or
67	67	(2) if the individual is unable to submit an
68	68	application for coverage under the plan during the period described
69	69	by Subdivision (1) of this section because the application is not
70	70	available and the individual requested the application during that
71	71	period, during a six-month period beginning on the date the
72	72	application initially becomes available.
73	73	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.