Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Smucker
Introduced
Summary
Creates a new special enrollment period under Medicare Part B for people moving from COBRA continuation coverage to Medicare. It would also align rules across ERISA, the Public Health Service Act, and the tax code and require updated COBRA notices to explain how COBRA and Part B interact.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New Medicare Part B window for COBRA users
If enacted, people on COBRA would get a one-time special window to sign up for Medicare Part B. The window would run while you are on COBRA and for three months after your last COBRA month. You could use this only once in your life. Your Part B would start the first day of the month after you enroll. Months you can prove you had COBRA would not raise your Part B premium for late enrollment. For this special window, qualifying continuation coverage must start on or after January 1, 2026, and can include similar state continuation coverage. The premium protection would start when the bill is enacted.
Protect COBRA and update Medicare notices
If enacted, your COBRA could not be cut or ended just because you are eligible for Medicare Part B but not enrolled. COBRA would be provided as if you were not Medicare-eligible, while you stay on COBRA. This would not require COBRA if you enroll in Part B, and it would not block other allowed COBRA terminations. The Labor Department would update COBRA notices by January 1, 2026. The notices would explain Medicare secondary payer rules and how they apply to COBRA.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Smucker
PA • R
Cosponsors
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Houchin
IN • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Thompson (CA)
CA • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Shreve
IN • R
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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