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Senate approves law letting Medicare supplement enrollees switch plans without underwriting
Summary
S610 Sub A, advanced at the request of the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, passed unanimously to allow Medicare supplement enrollees to change plans annually without medical underwriting and to require community rating for new policies.
Providence — The Rhode Island Senate unanimously approved S610 Sub A, a bill that adds consumer protections to state Medicare supplement (Medigap) law.
Chairwoman Melissa Murray, speaking for the Health and Human Services Committee, said the bill—introduced at the request of the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner—would let individuals already enrolled in Medicare supplement coverage switch plans annually without medical underwriting and would prohibit the use of attained-age and issue-age rating for new policies. Murray said the change replaces the "birthday rule" and aligns the enrollment period with the Medicare annual enrollment period.
The clerk recorded 34 votes in favor and none opposed; the act passed. The floor record indicates carriers would be billed by OHIC for actuarial review costs for annual rate requests and that implementation time would be allowed for carriers, but the transcript does not include a fiscal note or a detailed implementation timetable.
