Congress 107 - S 623 - Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Topics

Access to health care Armed Forces and National Security Coinsurance Congress Congressional investigations Congressional reporting requirements Dislocated workers Early retirement Economics and Public Finance Employee health benefits Families Federal employees Finance and Financial Sector Government employees' health insurance Government Operations and Politics Government trust funds Health Health insurance Health insurance continuation Income tax Insurance premiums Insurance rates Labor and Employment Managed care Married people Medicaid Medical economics Medically uninsured Medicare Military dependents Military medicine Personal income tax Retiree health benefits Social Welfare Tax credits

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Summary

Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals Age 62-to-65 Years of Age) (Medicare buy-in) entitling to the same Medicare benefits as an individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) an enrolled individual age 62 to 65 who: (1) would be eligible for such benefits if 65; but (2) is not eligible for benefits under a Federal health insurance program or a group health plan (other than merely through a Federal or State COBRA continuation provision).

Provides for the determination and payment of monthly premiums under the new part D program.

Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold the premiums paid pursuant to this Act. Provides for oversight and accountability concerning the status of the Trust Fund.

Amends SSA title XVIII to provide access to Medicare benefits to displaced workers age 55-to-62 and their spouses.

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation benefits for certain retired workers who lose retiree health coverage.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an individual with a tax credit for 50 percent of certain COBRA continuation coverage premiums and Medicare buy-in premiums.

Actions

Mar 27, 2001

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2983-2989)
Mar 27, 2001

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2983)
Mar 27, 2001

Introduced in Senate

Amendments

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