# Plain Language Summary: Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries with Pre-Existing Conditions Act

This bill removes age restrictions that currently prevent younger Medicare beneficiaries from buying Medigap insurance (also called Medicare supplement insurance). Right now, Medigap policies are primarily available to people who are 65 and older. This bill would allow anyone who qualifies for Medicare—including people under 65 who have disabilities or end-stage renal disease—to purchase Medigap coverage without being denied based on their health conditions. Insurance companies would have to sell these policies to anyone who meets the basic Medicare requirements, regardless of their age or medical history.

The bill also helps people who leave Medicare Advantage plans (the private insurance alternative to traditional Medicare) and want to switch back to original Medicare with Medigap coverage. Currently, if you've been in a Medicare Advantage plan for at least a year and then switch back to traditional Medicare, you can't automatically get a Medigap policy. This bill would allow you to buy any Medigap policy you want during the period when you're making that switch, without insurance companies being able to reject you or charge you more because of pre-existing conditions.

The changes would take effect starting January 1, 2025, though the government can phase in the implementation over up to five years if needed to avoid disrupting people already enrolled in Medigap plans. The bill also requires the government to create an outreach campaign to inform people who become newly eligible about this opportunity, working with insurance brokers, consumer advocates, and state health programs to spread the word.