In a letter to CMS, the Medicare Rights Center and other leading beneficiary advocacy groups share concerns about the Medicare-related impacts of unwinding of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and outline administrative solutions.
Our organizations understand post-PHE planning is a significant undertaking and we appreciate the administration’s focus on Medicaid eligibility, including the guidance the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shared with states and other entities about managing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) redeterminations, terminations, and other transitions. However, two key Medicare issues have not yet been fully addressed: (1) Failure to enroll in Medicare during the Initial Enrollment Period, and (2) The loss of Medigap guaranteed issue rights. Immediate policy interventions are needed to avoid significant disruptions in access to care and coverage. In the letter, we describe these matters and suggest administrative remedies.
