Eligible Medicare enrollees can buy supplement coverage without health screening

Insurers must let eligible enrollees buy Medicare supplement insurance without screening their health. This applies to people enrolled in Medicare supplement insurance or Medicare Advantage. It covers supplement policies insurers offer in Rhode Island, with a Plan A limit for eligible people under 65. Since their Medigap Open Enrollment Period, applicants must have had Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage, or another qualifying form of coverage with no gap longer than 90 days. Insurers cannot base acceptance or coverage on applicants’ health or use of health care. This right applies each Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for coverage starting January 1 of the following year. The law takes effect upon passage.

Insurers must offer every available Medicare supplement Plan A policy to eligible enrollees under 65 without health screening. This applies to people under 65 enrolled in Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement Plan A because of a disability, under subsection (g). Applicants must meet the annual enrollment rule and have qualifying coverage since their Medigap Open Enrollment Period, with no gap longer than 90 days. Insurers cannot base acceptance or coverage on applicants’ health or use of health care. Coverage selected during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period starts January 1 of the following year.