The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2024 creates a special enrollment period for people currently enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage, which is the health insurance option available to workers and their families after job loss or other qualifying events. Under this bill, individuals on COBRA coverage would have the ability to enroll in Medicare Part B during the months they are covered by COBRA plus an additional three months after their COBRA coverage ends, and they would only be able to use this enrollment period once in their lifetime. The bill also protects these individuals from premium penalties that normally apply to late Medicare enrollment and ensures that being eligible for Medicare Part B does not trigger early termination of their COBRA benefits. Additionally, the legislation requires the Department of Labor to update COBRA notices by January 1, 2025 to explain how Medicare's secondary payer rules apply to people on COBRA coverage. This bill applies specifically to COBRA continuation coverage beginning on or after January 1, 2025, including federal employee coverage and comparable state continuation programs.
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