On April 27th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would directly affect people who received Title II Social Security disability benefits and qualify for Medicare benefits. Several proposals are contained within CMS’s notice. First, “for individuals who become eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2023, and enroll in Part B during the last 3 months of their [Initial Enrollment Period] IEP, entitlement would begin the first day of the month following the month in which they enroll.” Current rules tie the Medicare entitlement date to the specific month of enrollment. The later you enroll, the longer the delay before entitlement begins. This rule is more equitable.
Another welcome proposed change: “Effective January 1, 2023, . . . certain individuals whose Medicare entitlement based on [End Stage Renal Disease] ESRD would otherwise end after a successful kidney transplant [will] continue enrollment under Medicare Part B only for the coverage of immunosuppressive drugs.” This is a big deal. Under current law, “entitlement to Medicare Part A and eligibility to enroll under Part B for ESRD beneficiaries ends with the 36th month after the month in which the individual receives a successful kidney transplant.”
Two other proposals — to simplify enrollment forms, and to modernize state payment of Medicare premiums — are designed to improve the customer experience when dealing with Medicare.