Today Congressman Kurt Schrader introduced the Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2010 to close current gaps in healthcare coverage for seniors.  Schrader’s bill establishes new Medicare Part B enrollment periods and is supported by AARP, the Medicare Rights Center, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Seniors.

“Many seniors are going without coverage because of problems transitioning into Medicare and are unable to pick up temporary coverage due to their age,” said Schrader. “This legislation will protect our seniors from being without coverage at a time when they need it most by providing them with a system of continuous enrollment.”

“Enrollment windows should not be an impediment to ensuring quality health care for America’s seniors, and seniors cannot afford to have a gap in coverage as they are waiting to transition to Medicare Part B,” said Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), an original co-sponsor of the legislation and co-chair of the Democratic Task Force on Seniors.  “I applaud Rep. Schrader for introducing this important legislation that will go a long way toward providing seniors with the flexibility they need to get the coverage they deserve.”

“The Medicare Rights Center receives calls on our hotlines almost daily from consumers who have declined Medicare Part B and are suffering the consequences—such as gaps in coverage,” said Joe Baker, President of the Medicare Rights Center. “The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2010, helps protect consumers who erroneously decline Medicare Part B, and assures continued access to coverage and doctors by allowing people who made innocent mistakes to enroll in Medicare without delay.”

"The Center for Medicare Advocacy hears frequently from individuals who do not have Medicare coverage for doctor visits because they did not understand or were given misinformation about the need to enroll in Medicare Part B,” said Vicki Gottlich, Senior Policy Attorney for the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Congressman Schrader's legislation establishes new Part B enrollment periods so that people who mistakenly declined Part B can get Medicare coverage for doctor visits and other Part B services without having to wait for the general enrollment period.”

The legislation was inspired by a Lake Oswego resident named Bill Bregar. Through no fault of his own, Mr. Bregar missed a key deadline to sign up for Medicare and as a result was not able to access health coverage. Congressman Schrader’s office has received multiple phone calls from around the country regarding this critical senior issue.

Confusion regarding when to enroll in Medicare Part B is common. The current system sometimes prohibits seniors that miss their initial enrollment period from enrolling in the program until the next general enrollment period.  Often this causes a gap in coverage for many seniors as they are waiting to transition to Part B.

The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2010 will establish a special enrollment period for seniors who miss their enrollment periods due to COBRA continuation coverage. The legislation also creates a continuous enrollment period that will allow seniors to sign up for Medicare Part B outside of the general enrollment period, and receive health coverage following the month of their enrollment. The continuous enrollment period would protect seniors from being without care at a time when they need it most, providing them with coverage within one month of enrollment.

Schrader’s legislation would also direct the Government Accountability Office to study the growing number of problems in Medicare Part B enrollment, and would also make reasonable relief to those who have been misinformed by any associate with a group health insurance plan including, employers or insurance companies.