To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 10 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 6, 2007

Amends part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B to 10% and twice the period of no enrollment; and (2) exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Provides for a special enrollment period for individuals whose COBRA or retiree coverage terminates.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4] · D–MA

Committees

Ways and Means Committee
Energy and Commerce Committee

32 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 12, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 6, 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jun 6, 2007
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Jun 6, 2007
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Jun 6, 2007
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
Jun 6, 2007
Introduced in House
Jun 6, 2007
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jun 6, 2007 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.2591 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2591, 110th Congress: To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 10 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-06-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr2591/BILLS-110hr2591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.2591 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.2591 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2591, 110th Congress: To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 10 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-06-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr2591/BILLS-110hr2591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2591 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.2591 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2591, 110th Congress: To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 10 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-06-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr2591/BILLS-110hr2591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2591 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.2591 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.2591, 110th Congress: To amend part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to limit the penalty for late enrollment under part B of the Medicare Program to 10 percent and twice the period of no enrollment, and to exclude periods of COBRA and retiree coverage from such late enrollment penalty.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/2591

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-06-06.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr2591/BILLS-110hr2591ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:24:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.2591 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.