PUBLIC LAW 97-248—SEPT. 3, 1982
96 STAT. 365
SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PROVISIONS FOR MERCHANT SEAMEN
SEC. 125. (a) Any individual who— (1) was entitled to medical, surgical, and dental treatment and hospitalization under section 322(a) of the Public Health Service Act (as in effect on September 30, 1981), including such entitlement on the basis of continuing medical care under 42 C.F.R. § 32.17, at any time during the period beginning on March 10, 1981, and ending on October 1, 1981, and (2) as of September 30, 1981, was eligible under section 1818(a) or section 1836 of the Social Security Act to enroll in the insurance program established by part A or part B, respectively, of title XVIII of that Act (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "respective program"), may enroll (if not otherwise enrolled) in the respective program during the period beginning on the first day of the first month beginning at least 20 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 1982. (b)(1) The coverage period under the respective program of an individual who enrolls under subsection (a) shall begin— (A) on the first day of the month following the month in which the individual enrolls, or (B) on October 1, 1981, if the individual files a request for this subparagraph to apply and pays the monthly premiums for the months so covered. (2) The coverage period under the respective program of an individual described in subsection (a) who enrolled in the respective program before the enrollment period described in that subsection shall be retroactively extended to October 1, 1981, if the individual files a request before January 1, 1983, for such retroactive extension and pays the monthly premiums for the months so covered. (c)(1) For purposes of section 1839(d) of the Social Security Act with respect to the monthly premium for months after September 1981, if an individual described in subsection (a) has enrolled in the insurance program under part B of title XVIII of the Social Security Act at any time before the end of the enrollment period described in subsection (a), any month (before the end of that enrollment period) in which he was not enrolled in that program shall not be treated as a month in which he could have been enrolled in the program. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an individual— (A) if the individual has enrolled in the insurance program before March 10, 1981, unless the enrollment was terminated solely because the individual lost eligibility to be so enrolled, or (B) unless the individual applies for the benefit of such paragraph before January 1, 1983. (d)(1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, beginning as soon as possible but not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, shall provide for the dissemination of information— (A) to unions and other associations representing or assisting seamen, (B) to offices enrolling individuals under the respective programs, and (C) to such other entities and in such a manner as will effectively inform individuals eligible for benefits under this section, concerning the special benefits provided under this section.
42 USC 1395i-2 note. 95 Stat. 603. 42 USC 249.
42 USC 1395i-2, 1395o. 42 USC 1395c, 1395J.
42 USC 1395r.
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