Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Fairness Act of 2006

H.R. 5399, the Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Fairness Act of 2006, was designed to provide financial relief to Medicare beneficiaries who did not sign up for the then-new prescription drug coverage (Part D) by the initial deadline. The bill would have eliminated the late enrollment penalty—a permanent increase in monthly premiums—for individuals who joined a plan at any point during the 2006 calendar year. Additionally, the legislation proposed new spending limits on a fund used to encourage private insurance companies to offer Medicare Advantage plans in regional markets.