Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Model Notice

MODEL INDIVIDUAL CREDITABLE COVERAGE DISCLOSURE NOTICE LANGUAGE
FOR USE ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2011

 To download a copy to edit in Word, please click here: Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Model Notice

Important Notice from [C_Officialname] About

Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare

 

 

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with [C_Officialname] and about your options under Medicare’s prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.

 

There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage:

 

1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.
2. [C_Officialname] has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the (Insert Name of Plan) is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is therefore considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.

 

_________________________________________________________________________

When Can You Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

 

You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15 to December 7.

 

However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.

MODEL INDIVIDUAL CREDITABLE COVERAGE DISCLOSURE NOTICE LANGUAGE
FOR USE ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2011

 

What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current [C_Officialname] coverage will (or will not) be affected. [The entity providing the Disclosure Notice should insert an explanation of the prescription drug coverage plan provisions/options under the particular entity’s plan that Medicare eligible individuals have available to them when they become eligible for Medicare Part D (e.g., they can keep this coverage if they elect part D and this plan will coordinate with Part D coverage; for those individuals who elect Part D coverage, coverage under the entity’s plan will end for the individual and all covered dependents, etc.). See pages 7- 9 of the CMS Disclosure of Creditable Coverage To Medicare Part D Eligible Individuals Guidance (available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CreditableCoverage/), which outlines the prescription drug plan provisions/options that Medicare eligible individuals may have available to them when they become eligible for Medicare Part D.]

 

If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current [C_Officialname] coverage, be aware that you and your dependents will (or will not) (Medigap issuers must insert “will not“) be able to get this coverage back.

 

When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

 You should also know that if you drop or lose your current coverage with [C_Officialname] and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.

 

If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to join.

 

For More Information About This Notice Or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…

 

Contact the person listed below for further information [or call (Insert Alternative Contact) at (XXX) XXX-XXXX]. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through [C_Officialname] changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.

MODEL INDIVIDUAL CREDITABLE COVERAGE DISCLOSURE NOTICE LANGUAGE
FOR USE ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2011

 

For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You’ll get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.

 

For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:

• Visit medicare.gov
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of your copy of the “Medicare & You” handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

 

If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

	Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).

 

 

(Optional Insert – Entities can choose to insert the following information box if they choose to provide a personalized disclosure notice.)

Medicare Eligible Individual’s Name: (Insert Full Name of Medicare Eligible Individual) Individual’s DOB or unique Member ID: (Insert Individual’s Date of Birth), or (Member ID) The individual stated above has been covered under creditable prescription drug coverage for the following date ranges that occurred after May 15, 2006: From: (Insert MM/DD/YY) To: (Insert MM/DD/YY)From: (Insert MM/DD/YY) To: (Insert MM/DD/YY)

Date:   (Insert MM/DD/YY)

Name of Entity/Sender:     [C_Officialname]

MODEL INDIVIDUAL CREDITABLE COVERAGE DISCLOSURE NOTICE LANGUAGE
FOR USE ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2011

 

Contact–Position/Office:        (Insert Position/Office)

Address:         (Insert Street Address, City, State & Zip Code of Entity)

Phone Number:    (Insert Entity Phone Number)