PREE)(ISTING CONDITION LIMITATIONS AND LIMITATION ON MEDICAL UNDERWRITING.

SEC. 4357. PREE)(ISTING CONDITION LIMITATIONS AND LIMITATION ON MEDICAL UNDERWRITING. (a) In General.— Section 1882 is amended— (1) in subsection (c), in the matter before paragraph (1), by inserting “or the requirement described in subsection (s)” after “paragraph (3)”, and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(s) (1) If a medicare supplemental policy replaces another medicare supplemental policy, the issuer of the replacing policy shall waive any time periods applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting period, elimination periods and probationary periods in the new medicare supplemental policy for similar benefits to the extent such time was spent under the original policy. “(2) (A) The issuer of a medicare supplemental policy may not deny or condition the issuance or effectiveness of a medicare supple-mental policy, or discriminate in the pricing of the policy, because of health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition for which an application is submitted during the 6 month period beginning with the first month in which the individual (who is 65 years of age or older) first is enrolled for benefits under part B. “(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as preventing the exclusion of benefits under a policy, during its first 6 months, based on a preexisting condition for which the policyholder received treatment or was otherwise diagnosed during the 6 months before it became effective. “(C) If a medicare supplemental policy or certificate replaces another such policy or certificate which has been in effect for 6 months or longer, the replacing policy may not provide any time period applicable to preexisting conditions, waiting periods, elimination periods, and probationary periods in the new policy or certificate for similar benefits. “(3) Any issuer of a medicare supplemental policy that fails to meet the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) is subject to a civil money penalty of not to exceed $5,000 for each such failure. The provisions of section 1128A (other than the first sentence of subsection (a) and other than subsection (b)) shall apply to a civil money penalty under the previous sentence in the same manner as such provisions apply to a penalty or proceeding under section 1128A(a).”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.