Minnesota SF 4148: Medicare supplement policies guaranteed issue requirements modification

Bill Text

1.1 A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to health insurance; modifying guaranteed issue requirements for Medicare​
1.3 supplement policies; requiring reinstatement of Medicare supplement policies for​
1.4 terminations due to cognitive impairment or functional incapacity; amending​
1.5 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 62A.31, subdivision 1n, by adding a subdivision;​
1.6 Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 62A.31, subdivisions 1b, 1f, 1h, 1r,​
1.7 1u.​
1.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.9 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 62A.31, subdivision 1b, is​
1.10 amended to read:​
1.11 Subd. 1b.Preexisting condition coverage.(a) The policy must cover preexisting​
1.12 conditions during the first six months of coverage if the insured was not diagnosed or treated​
1.13 for the particular condition during the 90 days immediately preceding the effective date of​
1.14 coverage.​
1.15 (b) The policy must cover preexisting conditions if the insured meets the requirements​
1.16 conditions for a premium increase under subdivision 1r, paragraph (c) (d).​
1.17 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 62A.31, subdivision 1f, is amended​
1.18 to read:​
1.19 Subd. 1f.Suspension based on entitlement to medical assistance.(a) The policy or​
1.20 certificate must provide that benefits and premiums under the policy or certificate shall be​
1.21 suspended for any period that may be provided by federal regulation at the request of the​
1.22 policyholder or certificate holder for the period, not to exceed 24 months, in which the​
1.23 policyholder or certificate holder has applied for and is determined to be entitled to medical​
1​Sec. 2.​
26-06961 as introduced​02/27/26 REVISOR RSI/CH​
SENATE​
STATE OF MINNESOTA​
S.F. No. 4148​NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
(SENATE AUTHORS: BOLDON)​
OFFICIAL STATUS​D-PG​DATE​
Introduction and first reading​6486​03/04/2026​
Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection​

2.1 assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act, but only if the policyholder or certificate​
2.2 holder notifies the issuer of the policy or certificate within 90 days after the date the​
2.3 individual becomes entitled to this assistance.​
2.4 (b) If suspension occurs and if the policyholder or certificate holder loses entitlement​
2.5 to this medical assistance, the policy or certificate shall be automatically reinstated, effective​
2.6 as of the date of termination of this entitlement, if the policyholder or certificate holder​
2.7 provides notice of loss of the entitlement within 90 days after the date of the loss and pays​
2.8 the premium attributable to the period, effective as of the date of termination of entitlement.​
2.9 (c) The policy must provide that upon reinstatement (1) there is no waiting period if the​
2.10 enrollee policyholder or certificate holder meets the requirements conditions for a premium​
2.11 increase under subdivision 1r, paragraph (c) (d), with respect to treatment of preexisting​
2.12 conditions, (2) coverage is provided which is substantially equivalent to coverage in effect​
2.13 before the date of the suspension. If the suspended policy provided coverage for outpatient​
2.14 prescription drugs, reinstitution of the policy for Medicare Part D enrollees must be without​
2.15 coverage for outpatient prescription drugs and must otherwise provide coverage substantially​
2.16 equivalent to the coverage in effect before the date of suspension, and (3) premiums are​
2.17 classified on terms that are at least as favorable to the policyholder or certificate holder as​
2.18 the premium classification terms that would have applied to the policyholder or certificate​
2.19 holder had coverage not been suspended.​
2.20 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 62A.31, subdivision 1h, is amended​
2.21 to read:​
2.22 Subd. 1h.Limitations on denials, conditions, and pricing of coverage.(a) No health​
2.23 carrier issuing Medicare-related coverage in this state may impose preexisting condition​
2.24 limitations or otherwise deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of any such coverage​
2.25 available for sale in this state, nor may it discriminate in the pricing of such coverage,​
2.26 because of the health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, medical condition,​
2.27 or age of an applicant where an application for such coverage is submitted:​
2.28 (1) prior to or during the six-month period beginning with the first day of the month in​
2.29 which an individual first enrolled for benefits under Medicare Part B; or​
2.30 (2) during the open enrollment period if the applicant:​
2.31 (i) is age 65 to 70 and the applicant is applying for coverage during the open enrollment​
2.32 period for the first time; and​
2​Sec. 3.​
26-06961 as introduced​02/27/26 REVISOR RSI/CH​

3.1 (ii) meets the requirements conditions for a premium increase under subdivision 1r,​
3.2 paragraph (c) (d).​
3.3 (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the prem