Senate approves President Lawson bill to allow seniors to enroll in supplemental Medicare plans without discrimination

State House — The Senate today voted to approve legislation from Senate President Valarie J. Lawson to ensure that Medicare patients over 65 years old are eligible for all Medicare supplemental coverage programs, regardless pre-existing conditions.

“For over a decade in our country insurers have been prohibited from denying coverage and raising rates for individuals just because they have a pre-existing condition. However, some loopholes existed, as seniors changing their supplemental coverage painfully discovered,” said President Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence). “This bill shores up the protections we put into place over the last few years to ensure that Medicare recipients, who have worked their whole lives, can choose the care plan that works for them without facing this discrimination.”

Most individuals over 65 years old, and some under 65 if they have certain disabilities or medical conditions, are eligible to enroll in Medicare, a health insurance plan from the federal government.

Medicare Part A covers hospitalizations and some other inpatient services. Part B covers doctors’ visits and some other outpatient services. Both are administered directly by the federal government and include costs such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

Medicare recipients who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B may also purchase a Medicare supplemental plan, also known as Medigap. Medigap is extra insurance from a private insurer that helps cover out-of-pocket costs in Parts A and B. In most states, including Rhode Island, there are ten different types of Medigap plans, identified by letter. Those who wish to enroll in Medigap must do so during an initial six-month open enrollment period when they first become eligible for Medicare.

If an enrollee wishes to change their Medigap plan later on, either because their health has changed or because they opted to stay on their employer plan or some other coverage when they were eligible for Medicare, they may be subject to a complex underwriting process including health screenings and blood work. Individuals can even be charged higher rates or denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

President Lawson’s legislation (2026-S 3282) would require that every Medicare recipient over sixty-five be granted at least one month each calendar year during which they may enroll in any Medigap plan without going through this underwriting process and potentially being denied coverage or charged a higher rate because they choose to switch plans.

The bill now goes to the House, where Rep. Michelle McGaw (D-Dist. 71, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Little Compton) has introduced companion legislation (2026-H 8595).

President Lawson’s bill was supported during its committee hearing by the Rhode Island AARP, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner and the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island.