Committee hears HB24 to let Medicare-eligible under‑65 patients buy Medigap; advocates cite small population, negligible premium impact and Medicaid savings

Summary

Proponents told the House Insurance Committee that House Bill 24 would allow Ohioans under 65 with ALS or end-stage renal disease who become Medicare-eligible to purchase Medigap (Medicare supplement) coverage; advocates said the change affects a small group and would have a de minimis effect on premiums while reducing Medicaid spend-down.

Proponents of House Bill 24 told the Ohio House Insurance Committee on Wednesday the bill would allow Medicare-eligible Ohioans younger than 65 who qualify for Medicare because of ALS or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to purchase Medicare supplemental (Medigap) coverage, and they argued the change would help patients, preserve access to transplants and produce modest Medicaid savings.

Alex Meister of the ALS Association and Elizabeth Lively of Dialysis Patient Citizens described how the current system leaves some younger patients without practical access to Medigap. "I learned that I couldn't enroll in traditional Medicare because I was under 65 and ineligible for a Medigap plan," Alex Meister said in written and oral testimony describing an Ohio resident's experience; proponents also noted federal law already grants immediate Medicare eligibility to people with ALS (there is no 24-month waiting period for Medicare…

Committee hears HB24 to let Medicare-eligible under‑65 patients buy Medigap; advocates cite small population, negligible premium impact and Medicaid savings

Summary

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