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HR 1255 107th Congress House

Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access to health insurance and Medicare bene… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to improve access to health insurance and Medicare benefits for individuals ages 55 to 65, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a 50 percent credit against income tax for payment of such premiums and of premiums for certain COBRA continuation coverage, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 27, 2001 See on congress.gov
Health Access to health careArmed Forces and National SecurityCoinsuranceCongress
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Congressional investigationsCongressional reporting requirementsDislocated workersEarly retirementEconomics and Public FinanceEmployee health benefitsFamiliesFederal employeesFinance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment employees' health insuranceGovernment trust fundsHealth insuranceHealth insurance continuationIncome taxInsurance premiumsInsurance ratesLabor and EmploymentManaged careMarried peopleMedicaidMedical economicsMedically uninsuredMedicareMilitary dependentsMilitary medicinePersonal income taxRetiree health benefitsSocial WelfareTax credits
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This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 27, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Apr 25, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Apr 24, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Mar 27, 2001
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Education and the Workforce, 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.
Mar 27, 2001
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E453-454)
Mar 27, 2001
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 27, 2001

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to add a new part D (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals Age 62-to-65 Years of Age) (Medicare buy-in) entitling to the same Medicare benefits as an individual entitled to benefits under Medicare part A (Hospital Insurance) and enrolled under Medicare part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance) an enrolled individual age 62 to 65 who: (1) would be eligible for such benefits if 65; but (2) is not eligible for benefits under a Federal health insurance program or a group health plan (other than merely through a Federal or State COBRA continuation provision) .

Provides for the determination and payment of monthly premiums under the new part D program.

Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold the premiums paid pursuant to this Act. Provides for oversight and accountability concerning the status of the Trust Fund.

Amends SSA title XVIII to provide access to Medicare benefits to displaced workers age 55-to-62 and their spouses.

Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to provide for COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation benefits for certain retired workers who lose retiree health coverage.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide an individual with a tax credit for 50 percent of certain COBRA continuation coverage premiums and Medicare buy-in premiums.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 623 Identical bill Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 6
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 9
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Oct 17, 2002
 D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Jul 30, 2001
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Apr 24, 2001
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · Apr 24, 2001
 D
Nadler, Jerrold
New York · Apr 4, 2001
DEUTSCH, PETER
· Mar 27, 2001
FROST, MARTIN
· Mar 27, 2001
GEPHARDT, RICHARD
· Mar 27, 2001
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· Mar 27, 2001
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Mar 27, 2001
 D
Pallone, Frank
New Jersey · Mar 27, 2001
 D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Mar 27, 2001
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Mar 27, 2001
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1255: Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-1255/
MLA
"H.R. 1255: Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-1255/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1255, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-1255/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1255: Medicare Early Access and Tax Credit Act of 2001](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-HR-1255/)
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