Washington, DC—The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) outlined its top administrative policy priorities in a memo to President-elect Biden. Medicare Rights is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, […]

Washington DC—The Medicare Rights Center welcomes passage in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives of key provisions of the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (S. 1280/H.R. 2477). Included in the year-end spending bill, these policies will update Medicare enrollment rules for the first time […]

Medicare Open Enrollment occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year and is the time of year when people with Medicare can make unrestricted changes to their coverage options. To assist the press in their Medicare coverage, the Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) developed Medicare Open Enrollment: A Resource for Journalists.

–Statement from Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi–  New York, NY – The Medicare Rights Center commends Governor Andrew Cuomo for extending the Special Enrollment Period for uninsured New Yorkers through the end of the year, to ensure that more New Yorkers can access health care during the coronavirus public health emergency.    On the Medicare Rights helpline, we often hear from people who desperately need […]

Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will consider the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477) in a full Committee markup. Medicare Rights strongly urges the Committee to advance the BENES Act without delay or amendment.

Washington, DC — Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health advanced the Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act (H.R. 2477). Next steps for the bill include consideration by the full Committee. “We applaud the Subcommittee’s work to prioritize the BENES Act,” said Fred Riccardi, president of the […]

Washington, DC — On Monday, President Trump submitted his annual budget request to Congress. The administration’s plan includes legislative proposals and detailed funding recommendations for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). While the president’s budget request is not binding on Congress and does not directly lead to any program or funding changes, […]

Washington, DC—Today, Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi testified at a hearing of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health titled “Legislation to Improve Americans’ Health Care Coverage and Outcomes.” In his testimony, Mr. Riccardi urged Congress to pass the bipartisan, bicameral Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) […]

Washington, DC — The Medicare Rights Center applauds today’s passage of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) by the U.S. House of Representatives. This landmark bill would significantly improve health care and prescription drug affordability for people with Medicare. At Medicare Rights, we understand the need […]

CMS Extends Needed Relief for People with Medicare Mistakenly Enrolled in Marketplace Plans –Statement by Fred Riccardi, President of the Medicare Rights Center—  New York, NY—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in guidance the phase out and extension of a critical relief pathway for current and […]