Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) proposed legislation that changes the enrollment period for Medicare supplements. | Photo Courtesy of Laura Murphy Facebook
Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) proposed legislation that changes the enrollment period for Medicare supplements. | Photo Courtesy of Laura Murphy Facebook
The senior population in Illinois will have more flexibility and expansive options when shopping for supplemental plans to Medicare through legislation the state Senate approved, Sen. Laura Murphy said in a May 7 release.
Murphy's (D-Des Plaines) proposal creates an annual open enrollment period for each Medicare supplement policyholder between 65 and 75 years old. It would start on the policyholder's birthday and last for 45 days.
"In the event that a policyholder’s circumstances change or their rates go up, their health status shouldn’t be a barrier to finding a more reasonably priced supplemental plan," Murphy said in a May 7 Facebook post. "I'm proud to announce the Senate passed this measure to prevent our older neighbors from being locked into a policy they don’t need and can’t afford."
The law also allows that during the enrollment period, the policyholder would gain the ability to switch to a new supplemental policy that has equal or lesser benefits while staying under the same insurance provider.
The measure is expected to help the elderly population have more older-age options for their insurance coverage. The House still needs to approve the change.
Alerts Sign-up