The Ripon Advance explains that a piece of legislation will help simplify the Medicare enrollment process as well as change the enrollment period dates.

The Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Act of 2020 was introduced by Rep. Jackie Walorski in May 2019. The legislation has recently been approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.

Currently, enrollment runs from Jan. 1 through March 31, and coverage for newcomers begins July 1. However, this bill will change the enrollment dates to Oct. 15 through Dec. 31. It also allows new Medicare recipients to begin receiving coverage on the first day of the month following their enrollment.

By simplifying this process, senior citizens could be saved from a lifetime of late-enrollment penalties and coverage gaps that are the result of a complicated enrollment process.

Senior Security Alliance is committed to helping senior citizens receive a less-stressful retirement. This bill is a great step. However, there is more to be done. The Senior Citizens Bill of Rights will help senior citizens achieve a more financially secure future.

Help us urge the politicians in Washington to pass this bill here.