Page 31 - Benefit Guide Stamford Residence and Rehab

Medicare Part D Notice: Prescription

Drug Coverage and Medicare

This notice has information about your current prescription drug When will you pay a higher premium (penalty) to join a
coverage with Stamford Residence and Rehab Center and your op- Medicare Drug Plan? You should also know that if you drop or
tions under Medicare's prescription drug coverage. This information lose your current coverage with Stamford Residence and Reha-
can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare bilitation Center medical plan and don't join a Medicare drug
drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage
current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medi-
with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescrip- care drug plan later. If you go 63 continuous days or longer
tion drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly
get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is premium may go up by at least 1% of the Medicare base benefi-
at the end of this notice. ciary premium per month for every month that you did not
have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months

Please note: If you are not Medicare eligible, and none of your
without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be
covered family members are Medicare eligible, no action is required
at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premi-
on your part.
um. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as
There are two important things you need to know about your long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addi-
current coverage and Medicare's prescription drug coverage: tion, you may have to wait until the following October to join.
• Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to For more information about this notice or your current
everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Prescription Drug Coverage: Contact your HR department for
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan further information, 325-773-3671. NOTE: You may receive

(like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All this notice at other times in the future such as before the next
Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage period you can enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage,
set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a and if this coverage changes. You also may request a copy.
higher monthly premium.
For more information about your options under Medicare
• Stamford has determined that the prescription drug coverage Prescription Drug Coverage: More detailed information about
offered by Stamford Residence and Rehab Center Healthcare & Re- Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the
habilitation medical plan is, on average for all plan participants, ex- "Medicare & You" handbook. You'll get a copy of the handbook
pected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be
coverage pays and is therefore UNITED HEALTHCARE is considered contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.
Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable
For more information about Medicare prescription drug
Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premi-
coverage:
um (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.
• Visit www.medicare.gov.
When can you join a Medicare Drug Plan? You can join a Medicare
drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each • Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the
year from October 15 through December 7. However, if you lose inside back cover of your copy of the "Medicare & You"
your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help.
of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call
Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.
1-877-486-2048.
What happens to your current coverage if you decide to join a
If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for

Medicare Drug Plan? If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan,
Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For
your current Stamford medical coverage will not be affected. Partici- information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the
pants may keep this coverage if they elect Part D and this plan will web at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213
coordinate with Part D coverage. If you decide to join a Medicare (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
drug plan and drop your current . Stamford medical plan coverage,
be aware that you and your dependents will NOT be able to get this
coverage back.
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