Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 1.djvu/381

 PUBLIC LAW 105-33—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 357 "(vi) The individual, upon first becoming eligible for benefits under part A at age 65, enrolls in a Medicare+Choice plan under part C, and disenrolls from such plan by not later than 12 months after the effective date of such enrollment. "(C)(i) Subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), a medicare supplemental policy described in this subparagraph is a medicare supplemental policy which has a benefit package classified as 'A', *B', 'C\ or T' under the standards established under subsection (p)(2). "(ii) Only for purposes of an individual described in subparagraph (B)(v), a medicare supplemental policy described in this subparagraph is the same medicare supplemental policy referred to in such subparagraph in which the individual was most recently previously enrolled, if available from the same issuer, or, if not so available, a policy described in clause (i). "(iii) Only for purposes of an individual described in subparagraph (B)(vi), a medicare supplemental policy described in this subparagraph shall include any medicare supplemental policy. "(iv) For purposes of applying this paragraph in the case of a State that provides for offering of benefit packages other than under the classification referred to in clause (i), the references to benefit packages in such clause are deemed references to comparable benefit packages offered in such State. "(D) At the time of an event described in subparagraph (B) because of which an individual ceases enrollment or loses coverage or benefits under a contract or agreement, policy, or plan, the organization that offers the contract or agreement, the insurer offering the policy, or the administrator of the plan, respectively, shall notify the individual of the rights of the individual under this paragraph, and obligations of issuers of medicare supplemental policies, under subparagraph (A).". (b) LIMITATION ON IMPOSITION OF PREEXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION DURING INITIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD. —Section 1882(s)(2) (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(s)(2)) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking "subparagraph (C)" and inserting "subparagraphs (C) and (D)", and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: "(D) In the case of a policy issued during the 6-month period described in subparagraph (A) to an individual who is 65 years of age or older as of the date of issuance and who as of the date of the application for enrollment has a continuous period of creditable coverage (as defined in 2701(c) of the Public Health Service Act) of— "(i) at least 6 months, the policy may not exclude benefits based on a pre-existing condition; or "(ii) less than 6 months, if the policy excludes benefits based on a preexisting condition, the policy shall reduce the period of any preexisting condition exclusion by the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage (if any, as so defined) applicable to the individual as of the enrollment date. The Secretary shall specify the manner of the reduction under clause (ii), based upon the rules used by the Secretary in carrying out section 2701(a)(3) of such Act.". (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT. —Section 1882(d)(3)(A)(vi)(III) (42 U.S.C. 1395ss(d)(2)(A)(vi)(III)) is amended by inserting ", a policy described in clause (v)," after "Medicare supplemental policy". (d) EFFECTIVE DATES.— 42 USC i395ss note.

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