Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025
Key claim: The Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025 would create a once-per-lifetime special enrollment period so people on COBRA when they become Medicare-eligible can enroll in Medicare medical benefits during each month of COBRA and for three months after it ends.
Abstract
(HR2744 · 119th Congress) Medicare Enrollment Protection Act of 2025 This bill provides for a special enrollment period for Medicare medical benefits for individuals who are enrolled in COBRA continuation coverage at the time they qualify for Medicare. The special enrollment period applies during each month of COBRA coverage and the three-month period after coverage ends; individuals may enroll during the special enrollment period once during their lifetime. Latest action (2025-04-08): Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, and Ways and Means, 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.
Why this matters
COBRA enrollees who miss their initial Medicare enrollment window currently face late-enrollment penalties and coverage gaps because COBRA does not count as creditable coverage for Medicare Part B. This bill would give a targeted special enrollment period to fix that trap, changing when eligible individuals can move onto Medicare without penalty and affecting what they pay in Part B premiums over time.