{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140309084959/http://rothfus.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=632", "Policy Member Spotlight: Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) – H.R. 2453, The Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Policy Member Spotlight:\u00a0Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) \u2013\u00a0H.R. 2453, The Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act\n\n\tH.R. 2453, the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act, introduced by Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA), restores the 90-day Medicare Advantage open enrollment period from January 1 to March 31.\u00a0 The bill currently has 13 cosponsors.\n\n\tWhat is Medicare Advantage?\n\n\tMedicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage (MA), provides private plan options to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. Approximately 14.8 million individuals, 28 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries, are enrolled in MA plans, which include health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, private-fee-for-service plans, and special needs plans.[1]\u00a0 In the MA program, payments are made to private plans on behalf of beneficiaries from both the Health Insurance Trust Fund (HI) and the Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI) fund.[2]\u00a0 In 2012, approximately $136 billion from both the HI and SMI funds was directed toward MA plans.[3]\u00a0 Enrollment in MA plans has grown over the years from 1.3 million in 1985 to 14.8 million in 2013.[4]\u00a0 Studies have identified the MA program as more effective than the traditional fee for service,[5] particularly among those individuals with chronic conditions and those individuals who reside in rural areas.[6]\n\n\tWhat is the Problem?\n\n\tPrior to 2011, in addition to the general enrollment period for all Medicare plans from October 15 until December 7, Medicare beneficiaries were able to switch between MA plans during a 90-day open enrollment period from January 1 through March 31.[7]\u00a0 In 2011, CMS, through regulations, replaced the second enrollment with an annual 45-day disenrollment period.[9]\u00a0 During this period, seniors are not permitted to switch MA plans; instead they are required either to stay in their current plan or switch back to traditional Medicare plans (Part A and Part B).\u00a0 MA beneficiaries may switch between MA plans during the October 15th-December 7th Annual Open Enrollment Period.\u00a0\n\n\tIn November, the Wall Street Journal reported that UnitedHealth Group Inc., \u201cthe nation\u2019s largest provider of privately managed MA plans,\u201d had dropped thousands of doctors from its networks, citing \u201csignificant changes and pressures in the health-care environment.\u201d[9]\u00a0 These notices allow doctors to appeal within 30 days.\u00a0 However, the length of the appeal process means that patients will not know who is in their network until after the December 7th enrollment deadline passes.\u00a0 This development has left thousands of seniors uncertain about whether they need to change MA plans in order to see their current doctor and unable to make necessary changes to their health care coverage.\n\n\tWhat is the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act?\n\n\tH.R. 2453, the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act, restores the 90-day MA open enrollment period at the beginning of the year, while preserving the option for seniors to change their MA plan during the October open enrollment period.\u00a0 This would allow seniors to once again change their MA plans one time during the first quarter of the year, if they determine that their current plan does not meet their health needs.\u00a0 This bill gives seniors the same flexibility and freedom to change their plans that was afforded to them prior to 2011.\u00a0 The bill is supported by America\u2019s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the 60 Plus Association, and the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC).\n\n\tAdditional Resources:\n\n\tIf you are interested in cosponsoring H.R. 2453, please contact Rep. Keith Rothfus\u2019 office at (202) 225-2065.\n\n\tDownloadable PDF\n\n\t\u00a0\n\n\tCitations\n\n\t[1]\u00a0See\u00a0CRS Medicare Financing: September 19, 2013, p24.\n\n\t[2]\u00a0See\u00a0id.\n\n\t[3]\u00a0See\u00a0id., p8.\n\n\t[4]\u00a0See CRS Medicare Financing: September 19, 2013, p24.\n\n\t[5]\u00a0See\u00a0What You Need to Know, Medicare Advantage: Providing High Quality, Cost Efficient Care for Medicare Beneficiaries.\n\n\t[6]\u00a0http://kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/medicare-advantage-fact-sheet/.\n\n\t[7]\u00a0http://www.medicare.com/advantage-plans/enrollment-and-disenrollment-periods-for-medicare-advantage-plans.html\n\n\t[8]\u00a0See\u00a0id.\n\n\t[9]\u00a0Melinda Beck, \u201cUnitedHealth Culls Doctors From Medicare Advantage Plans,\u201d\u00a0Wall Street Journal(November 16, 2013).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140309084959/http://rothfus.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=632"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.5605708360671997, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}