Arizona House Bill HB2433

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/26
• Report Pass: 2/16/26

Caption

medicare supplement insurance; ALS; ESRD

Summary

HB 2433 amends Arizona’s medicare supplement insurance statute to expand access for Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 who qualify because of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The bill requires insurers that sell Medicare supplement policies to people 65 and older to also offer the same policies to ESRD and ALS enrollees under 65, with the same benefits and coverages available to older enrollees. It also creates a specific enrollment window for certain under-65 beneficiaries and preserves other enrollment periods allowed by federal law. The bill further limits pricing differences by prohibiting insurers from charging under-65 ESRD or ALS enrollees a premium rate above the insurer’s filed rate schedule for the same plan charged to 65-year-old enrollees. It also clarifies that Medicare supplement policies may not exclude covered services provided by properly licensed health care providers when those services are eligible for Medicare reimbursement and covered by Medicare, and it preserves the state’s authority to regulate minimum standards for Medicare supplement insurance consistent with federal law.

Impact

HB 2433 would change Arizona insurance law by expressly extending Medicare supplement policy availability, benefits, and pricing protections to certain under-65 Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD or ALS. It amends A.R.S. § 20-1133, which governs Medicare supplement insurance, and applies to insurers, disability insurers, service corporations, fraternal benefit societies, and health care service organizations issuing coverage in Arizona. The bill would require rulemaking by the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions to implement the new requirements and allow insurers time to conform their forms and practices.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support in committee: the House Health & Human Services Committee approved the bill 12-0 after initially holding it. No opposing testimony or transcript excerpts were provided, but the committee action indicates the measure was generally viewed favorably. The bill’s focus on access and parity for people with serious medical conditions likely contributed to the positive reception.

Contention

The main policy issue is whether insurers should be required to offer the same Medicare supplement products and pricing to under-65 beneficiaries with ESRD or ALS as they do to traditional Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older. Potential concerns for insurers include premium adequacy, administrative changes, and the impact of extending guaranteed access and rate parity to a smaller, higher-cost population. Another possible point of contention is the timing and implementation of the special enrollment window and the requirement that insurers make applications available for the new eligibility group.