H.R. 2453, the “Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act of 2013”

Under current law, Medicare beneficiaries have an annual open enrollment period from October 15th through December 7th of every year where they can elect to remain in Original Medicare, join a Medicare Advantage Plan, or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.  Prior to 2011, beneficiaries also had a second open enrollment period from January 1st through March 31st where they could switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another (but not return to Original Medicare).  The Affordable Care Act eliminated this second open enrollment period because it was confusing to beneficiaries.  

H.R. 2453, introduced by Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA), would restore the confusing second enrollment period and allow a beneficiary to change his/her enrollment in Medicare Advantage for the first three months of a year or the first three months after becoming eligible for Medicare Advantage.  Each beneficiary would be limited to one change per year outside of the annual enrollment period or a special enrollment.