FILE - Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 7, 2021. Casey, one of the last self-styled pro-life Democrats on Capitol Hill, said Tuesday, May 10, 2022, that he will support a bill to write abortion rights into federal law as Democrats scramble to respond to the Supreme Court’s leaked draft decision that would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Todd Young, R-Indiana, introduced legislation to simplify Medicare enrollment for seniors and people with disabilities.

According to a news release, the bill would require the federal government to provide advance notice to people approaching Medicare eligibility about basic Medicare enrollment rules, filling a longstanding gap in education for older adults and people with disabilities.

“When people sign up for Medicare, they should be supported every step of the way. Medicare is an American success story, and we have to make sure folks can make the most of the benefits they have earned,” said Casey, according to the news release. “This legislation will help seniors avoid the costly fees associated with missing the deadline to enroll, and hold onto their hard-earned savings.”

“Currently, seniors who miss the sign-up deadline for Medicare Part B face onerous penalties that persist for the rest of their lives. The BENES 2.0 Act will ensure individuals have access to the information necessary to make more informed decisions as they approach Medicare eligibility,” said Young.

People who miss their initial Medicare enrollment window may pay lifetime late enrollment penalties, the news release said. In 2020, about 776,000 people with Medicare were paying a Part B Late Enrollment Penalty and the average amounted to nearly a 27% increase in a monthly premium.

In December of 2020, Congress passed key provisions of similar legislation, which updated Medicare enrollment rules to end needless gaps in coverage.