2026 -- S 3282

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LC006468

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, and Murray

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 27-18.2-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-18.2 entitled "Medicare

Supplement Insurance Policies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     27-18.2-3. Standards for policy provisions.

     (a) No Medicare supplement insurance policy or certificate in force in the state shall contain

benefits that duplicate benefits provided by Medicare.

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law of this state, a Medicare supplement policy

or certificate shall not exclude or limit benefits for loss incurred more than six (6) months from the

effective date of coverage because it involved a preexisting condition. The policy or certificate shall

not define a preexisting condition more restrictively than a condition for which medical advice was

given or treatment was recommended by or received from a physician within six (6) months before

the effective date of coverage.

     (c) The commissioner shall adopt reasonable regulations to establish specific standards for

policy provisions of Medicare supplement policies and certificates. Those standards shall be in

addition to and in accordance with the applicable laws of this state, including but not limited to §§

27-18-3(a) and 42-62-12 and regulations promulgated pursuant to those sections. No requirement

of this title or chapter 62 of title 42 relating to minimum required policy benefits, other than the

minimum standards contained in this chapter, shall apply to Medicare supplement policies and

certificates. The standards may cover, but not be limited to:

     (1) Terms of renewability;

     (2) Initial and subsequent conditions of eligibility;

     (3) Nonduplication of coverage;

     (4) Probationary periods;

     (5) Benefit limitations, exceptions, and reductions;

     (6) Elimination periods;

     (7) Requirements for replacement;

     (8) Recurrent conditions; and

     (9) Definitions of terms.

     (d) The commissioner may adopt reasonable regulations that specify prohibited policy

provisions not specifically authorized by statute, if, in the opinion of the commissioner, those

provisions are unjust, unfair, or unfairly discriminatory to any person insured or proposed to be

insured under a Medicare supplement policy or certificate.

     (e) The commissioner shall adopt reasonable regulations to establish minimum standards

for premium rates, benefits, claims payment, marketing practices, and compensation arrangements

and reporting practices for Medicare supplement policies and certificates.

     (f) The commissioner may adopt any reasonable regulations necessary to conform

Medicare supplement policies and certificates to the requirements of federal law and regulations

promulgated pursuant to federal law, including but not limited to:

     (1) Requiring refunds or credits if the policies or certificates do not meet loss ratio

requirements;

     (2) Establishing a uniform methodology for calculating and reporting loss ratios;

     (3) Assuring public access to policies, premiums, and loss ratio information of issuers of

Medicare supplement insurance;

     (4) Establishing a process for approving or disapproving policy forms and certificate forms

and proposed premium increases;

     (5) Establishing a policy for holding public hearings prior to approval of premium increases

that may include the applicant’s provision of notice of the proposed premium increase to all

subscribers subject to the proposed increase, at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing; and

     (6) Establishing standards for Medicare select policies and certificates.

     (g) Each Medicare supplement Plan A policy or applicable certificate that an issuer

currently, or at any time hereafter, makes available in this state shall be made available to any

applicant under the age of sixty-five (65) who is eligible for Medicare due to a disability or end-

stage renal disease, provided that the applicant submits their application during the first six (6)

months immediately following the applicant’s initial eligibility for Medicare Part B, or alternate

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enrollment period as determined by the commissioner. The issuance or coverage of any Medicare

supplement policy pursuant to this section shall not be conditioned on the medical or health status

or receipt of health care by the applicant; and no insurer shall perform individual medical

underwriting on any applicant in connection with the issuance of a policy pursuant to this

subsection.

     (1) Any individual under the age of sixty-five (65) enrolled in a Medicare supplement Plan

A by reason of disability or end-stage renal disease pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, shall

receive a six-month (6) open enrollment period for any policy or applicable certificate that an issuer

currently makes available in this state beginning on the first day of the month in which the

individual both attains the age of sixty-five (65) and remains enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B.

     (h) Each year, for the duration of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for

coverage with an effective date of January 1 of the following year, an individual enrolled in a

Medicare supplement policy or Medicare Advantage plan who has been covered by any Medicare

supplement policy(s) or Medicare Advantage plan(s) or another form of credible coverage with no

gap in coverage greater than ninety (90) days beginning from that individual’s Medicare Initial

Enrollment Period (IEP) Medigap Open Enrollment Period, shall be afforded guaranteed issue

rights for any available Medicare supplement policy or applicable certificate that an issuer currently

makes available in this state.

     (1) The issuance or coverage of any Medicare supplement policy pursuant to subsection

(h) of this section shall not be conditioned on the medical or health status or receipt of health care

by the applicant and no issuer shall perform individual medical underwriting on any applicant in

connection with the issuance of a policy pursuant to this subsection.

     (2) For those individuals under the age of sixty-five (65) enrolled in a Medicare Advantage

or Medicare supplement Plan A due to a disability, pursuant to subsection (g) of this section the

individual shall be afforded guaranteed issue rights for every Medicare supplement Plan A policy

or applicable certificate that an issuer makes available in this state. Coverage shall be afforded

pursuant to subsection (h)(1) of this section.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES

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     This act would expand guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll

outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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