Medicare Creditable Coverage Notice
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Notice
Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with San Francisco Health Service System (SFHSS) 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. SFHSS has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the health plan is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is 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 15th through December 7th. However, if you lose creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare Drug Plan.
What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide To Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your SFHSS coverage will be affected. Benefits will not be coordinated with a Medicare Part D plan. If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your SFHSS prescription drug coverage, be aware that you may not be able to get this coverage back (does not apply to active employees/dependents).
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 coverage with SFHSS 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 prescription drug coverage that’s at least as good as Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the 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 Open Enrollment period in October to join.
For More Information About This Notice Or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage
Contact SFHSS at (628) 652-4700 for further information. NOTE: You’ll get this notice each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, or if this coverage through SFHSS changes. You also may request a copy at any time.
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. If Medicare-eligible, 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 or 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. They can be reached at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
TTY users should call (877) 486-2048.
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information, visit Social Security at ssa.gov, or call (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 whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).