What will The Chris Larkin ALS ACT do to Medigap premiums in Texas?

[GailL1]

CURRENTLY, disabled individuals everywhere on Medicare already get a do over at age 65 - IOW, they get to apply for a (any) Medigap plan based on GI rights based on AGE at 65.  But this law covers them BEFORE the age of 65 - 

The Chris Larkin ALS Act

Texas.gov HHS Senate Research Analysis of HB 2516 05/12/2025 

How much will rates increase because of this special consideration - IDK ??????  But I will guess a good bit - it became effective on Sept 01, 2025 so I’m guessing that we should know the effect of it pretty soon.  

The Act mandates that premiums for Plan A, B and D must match those offered to beneficiaries 65 and older, and for other Medigap plans, rates for those UNDER 65 may not exceed 200% of the rates charged to those over 65.

Where it save the state money is in MEDICAID cost - it will not save those which have Medigap plans from paying higher premiums as a result of this change. How much will be the question cause that will depend on how many disabled individuals 

sign up for one, which one and how much their usage will be.

I believe, if I am reading it right that they do have a chance to sign up now for this new type of Medigap premium  coverage. 

The link above says:

SECTION 3. Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a Medicare supplement benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after September 1, 2025.

SECTION 4. Authorizes an individual younger than 65 years of age and enrolled in Medicare Part B by reason of disability, end stage renal disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in addition to other enrollment periods provided by law, on the effective date of this Act to apply for coverage under a Medicare supplement benefit plan:

(1) after August 31, 2025, and before March 2, 2026; or

(2) if the individual is unable to submit an application for coverage under the plan during the period described by Subdivision (1) of this section because the application is not available and the individual requested the application during that period, during a six-

month period beginning on the date the application initially becomes available.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.