Bill Sponsor
House Bill 2477
116th Congress(2019-2020)
BENES Act of 2020
Active
Active
Passed House on Dec 8, 2020
Overview
Text
Sponsor
Introduced
May 2, 2019
Latest Action
Dec 9, 2020
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
2477
Congress
116
Policy Area
Health
Health
Primary focus of measure is science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease; health services administration and funding, including such programs as Medicare and Medicaid; health personnel and medical education; drug use and safety; health care coverage and insurance; health facilities. Measures concerning controlled substances and drug trafficking may fall under Crime and Law Enforcement policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Republican
Colorado
Republican
Florida
Democrat
New Hampshire
Democrat
New Hampshire
Republican
New York
Republican
Pennsylvania
Democrat
Pennsylvania
Democrat
Washington
Democrat
Washington
Republican
Wisconsin
House Votes (1)
Senate Votes (0)
checkPassed on December 8, 2020
Status
Passed
Type
Voice Vote
Voice Vote
A vote in which the presiding officer states the question, then asks those in favor and against to say "Yea" or "Nay," respectively, and announces the result according to his or her judgment. The names or numbers of senators voting on each side are not recorded.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Summary

Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2019 or the BENES Act of 2019

This bill makes a series of changes to, and requires additional notifications regarding, the Medicare enrollment process.

Specifically, the bill changes the Medicare general enrollment period to October 15-December 31, and requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment. (Currently, the general enrollment period is January 1-March 31, and coverage begins July 1.) The bill also generally requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment for individuals who enroll in the latter months of their initial enrollment period. (Currently, the longer an individual waits to enroll, the more delayed the effective date of coverage.)

The bill also requires Social Security account statements for individuals ages 60 to 64 to include information about Medicare eligibility, late enrollment penalties, coordination of benefits, and special enrollment populations (e.g., veterans).

Text (3)
December 9, 2020
December 8, 2020
Actions (16)
12/09/2020
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
12/08/2020
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12/08/2020
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6993-6997)
12/08/2020
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12/08/2020
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2477.
12/08/2020
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6993-7000)
12/08/2020
Mr. Larson (CT) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
12/08/2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 116-621, Part I.
07/15/2020
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
07/15/2020
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
03/11/2020
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) .
03/11/2020
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
01/08/2020
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
05/03/2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
05/02/2019
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
05/02/2019
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:44:07 PM