The Close the Medigap Act of 2025 would change federal rules for Medicare supplemental (Medigap) insurance. It would require guaranteed issue for many people with Medicare Part A and Part B, meaning issuers generally could not deny coverage, exclude preexisting conditions, or impose waiting periods for those enrollees. The bill also bans use of genetic information to deny coverage or set prices and limits certain forms of pricing that apply to only part of a county. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would work with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to update standards and to set a new medical loss ratio that is periodically reviewed and tied to NAIC recommendations. The bill directs updates to the Medicare Plan Finder website to show provider networks, out-of-pocket cost estimates, clearer plan comparisons, and state rules about guaranteed issue before 2026. It would restore a previously removed subsection affecting first-dollar Medigap coverage and require issuers to report annual payments to agents and brokers to the Secretary. Most changes take effect for policies on or after January 1, 2026, with HHS allowed to phase in implementation so all changes are in place by January 1, 2031.
If you are entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B, this bill aims to make it easier to buy Medigap coverage by stopping denials, removing preexisting condition exclusions, and ending waiting periods for many enrollees. The bill seeks to stop some types of price differences based on age, partial geographic areas, or genetic information. The Medicare Plan Finder website would add tools to compare premiums, deductibles, copays, annual out-of-pocket estimates, and provider networks to help you compare options. Issuers would have to report payments to brokers, so consumers could get clearer information about broker payments. Exact effects for any individual depend on later rules written by HHS and the NAIC.
No publicly available information on cost or budgetary estimates is included in the bill text. The bill does direct HHS to develop outreach, update the Medicare Plan Finder, consult with the NAIC, and requires annual reporting by issuers, but the text does not provide dollar amounts or official budget estimates.
No publicly available information in the bill text describing proponents' arguments or claims. The bill text lists sponsors and requires outreach and website updates but does not include supporting statements.
No publicly available information in the bill text describing opponents' arguments or claims.