United States 118th Congress Status: In Committee 58 D cosponsors

HR 35 — Close the Medigap Act of 2023

Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill expands access to Medigap policies for Medicare beneficiaries.

This bill increases the availability of Medigap policies by ensuring guaranteed issue rights and removing limitations for new Medicare recipients. It also mandates an outreach plan to inform beneficiaries about these changes.

What this means for you
  • Consumers: Consumers will have guaranteed access to Medigap policies regardless of preexisting health conditions.
  • Healthcare: This means improved access to supplemental insurance for Medicare beneficiaries.

Summary

Close the Medigap Act of 2023 This bill (1) expands guaranteed issue rights with respect to Medigap policies (Medicare supplemental health insurance policies), (2) eliminates certain limitations on Medigap policies for newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries, and (3) modifies other provisions related to Medigap policies. (Guaranteed issue rights require that a policy be offered to any eligible applicant without regard to health status.)

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the Social Security Act to enhance rights and protections for individuals seeking Medicare supplemental health insurance policies.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)

    (s)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the issuer of a medicare supplemental policy may not, in the case of an individual entitled to benefits under part A and enrolled under part B-- (A) deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of a medicare supplemental policy, or discriminate in the pricing of the policy, because of health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition; (B) exclude benefits based on a preexisting condition; (C) provide any time period applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting periods, elimination periods, and probationary periods for any benefit; (D) deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of the policy (including the imposition of any exclusion of benefits under the policy based on a preexisting condition) or discriminate in the pricing of the policy (including the adjustment of premium rates) of an individual on the basis of the genetic information with respect to such individual; (E) deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of a medicare supplemental policy that is offered and is available for issuance to new enrollees by such issuer; or (F) establish any period limiting enrollment under a medicare supplemental policy to such period for any individual.

    This change prohibits insurance issuers from discriminating against applicants based on health status or other factors.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ss(r)(1)(A)

    policy, at least 75 percent of the aggregate amount of premiums collected in the case of group policies and at least 65 percent in the case of individual policies; and → policy-- (i) with respect to periods beginning before January 1, 2024, at least 75 percent of the aggregate amount of premiums collected in the case of group policies and at least 65 percent in the case of individual policies; and (ii) with respect to periods beginning on or after January 1, 2024, a percent of the aggregate amount of premiums collected that, in the case of group policies or individual policies, as applicable, is equal to or greater than both-- (I) the applicable percent specified in clause (i) with respect to such policies; and (II) such percent as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners may recommend to the Secretary with respect to such policies for purposes of this paragraph;

    This change updates the medical loss ratio requirements for Medicare supplemental policies to include potential new standards set by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners starting in 2024.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395ss

    (aa) Development of New Standards Relating to Pricing Discrimination.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall request the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to review and revise the standards for all benefit packages under subsection (p)(1), including the core benefit package, in order to provide coverage consistent with paragraph (2).

    This provision mandates a review and revision of pricing discrimination standards for Medicare supplemental insurance.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1395b-2

    (d) In the case that the Secretary provides for a Medicare plan finder internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (or a successor website), the Secretary shall, with respect to such website and in accordance with subsection (f)-- (1) make available on such website-- (A) access to provider networks in order to provide to individuals entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under part B information to assist such individuals in understanding the restrictions on providers and potential costs entailed by their decisions regarding enrollment under parts A and B, under part C, and in medicare supplemental policies under section 1882;

    This amendment requires the creation and maintenance of a Medicare plan finder website that provides comprehensive information to beneficiaries.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 57 co-sponsors · 489 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (57)

Not signed on (489)

489 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 489 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 35 do?
Close the Medigap Act of 2023 This bill (1) expands guaranteed issue rights with respect to Medigap policies (Medicare supplemental health insurance policies), (2) eliminates certain limitations on Medigap policies for newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries, and (3) modifies other provisions related to Medigap policies. (Guaranteed issue rights require that a policy be offered to any eligible applicant without regard to health status.)
Who sponsors HR 35?
HR 35 is sponsored by Bishop, Sanford D. (Democratic), Blumenauer, Earl (Democratic), Bowman, Jamaal (Democratic), Cartwright, Matt (Democratic), Casar, Greg (Democratic), Casten, Sean (Democratic), Chu, Judy (Democratic), Cleaver, Emanuel (Democratic), Cohen, Steve (Democratic), DeLauro, Rosa L. (Democratic), Dingell, Debbie (Democratic), Evans, Dwight (Democratic), Garamendi, John (Democratic), García, Jesús G. "Chuy" (Democratic), Grijalva, Raúl M. (Democratic), Hayes, Jahana (Democratic), Jayapal, Pramila (Democratic), Kaptur, Marcy (Democratic), Khanna, Ro (Democratic), Lee, Barbara (Democratic), Mfume, Kweisi (Democratic), Nadler, Jerrold (Democratic), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria (Democratic), Porter, Katie (Democratic), Schakowsky, Janice D. (Democratic), Sherman, Brad (Democratic), Takano, Mark (Democratic), Thompson, Mike (Democratic), Titus, Dina (Democratic), Tonko, Paul (Democratic), Trone, David J. (Democratic), Watson Coleman, Bonnie (Democratic), Williams, Nikema (Democratic), Napolitano, Grace F. (Democratic), Cicilline, David N. (Democratic), Krishnamoorthi, Raja (Democratic), Sewell, Terri A. (Democratic), Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila (Democratic), Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" (Democratic), Fletcher, Lizzie (Democratic), Wild, Susan (Democratic), Lee, Susie (Democratic), Garcia, Sylvia R. (Democratic), Ramirez, Delia C. (Democratic), Jackson Lee, Sheila (Democratic), Veasey, Marc A. (Democratic), Salinas, Andrea (Democratic), Payne, Donald M. (Democratic), Hoyle, Val T. (Democratic), Crockett, Jasmine (Democratic), Neguse, Joe (Democratic), Pressley, Ayanna (Democratic), Espaillat, Adriano (Democratic), Carter, Troy A. (Democratic), Jacobs, Sara (Democratic), Carson, André (Democratic), and Doggett, Lloyd (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 35?
This bill died with 118th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 35?
Track HR 35 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HR 35

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HR 35

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →