Page 43 - Stamford Residence & Rehabilitation - Benefit Guide 3-1-2021

Medicare Part D Notice: Prescription

Drug Coverage and Medicare

This notice has information about your current prescription drug your dependents will NOT be able to get this coverage back.
coverage with Stamford Residence & Rehabilitation and your op-
When will you pay a higher premium (penalty) to join a
tions under Medicare's prescription drug coverage. This information
Medicare Drug Plan? You should also know that if you drop or
can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare
lose your current coverage with Stamford Residence & Rehabili-
drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your
tation medical plan and don't join a Medicare drug plan within
current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost,
63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may
with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescrip-
pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan
tion drug coverage in your area. Information about where you can
later. If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable
get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is
prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up
at the end of this notice.
by at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per

Please note: If you are not Medicare eligible, and none of your month for every month that you did not have that coverage.
covered family members are Medicare eligible, no action is required For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable
on your part. coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19%
higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may
There are two important things you need to know about your
have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have
current coverage and Medicare's prescription drug coverage:
Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have
• Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to to wait until the following October to join.
everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a
For more information about this notice or your current
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan
Prescription Drug Coverage: Contact your HR department for
(like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All

further information, 325-773-3671. NOTE: You may receive

Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage
this notice at other times in the future such as before the next
set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a
period you can enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage,
higher monthly premium.
and if this coverage changes. You also may request a copy.
• Stamford Residence & Rehabilitation has determined that the
For more information about your options under Medicare
prescription drug coverage offered by Stamford Residence & Reha-
Prescription Drug Coverage: More detailed information about
bilitation medical plan is, on average for all plan participants, ex-
Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the
pected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug
"Medicare & You" handbook. You'll get a copy of the handbook
coverage pays and is therefore UNITED HEALTHCARE is considered
in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be
Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable
contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.
Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premi-
um (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug For more information about Medicare prescription drug
plan. coverage:
When can you join a Medicare Drug Plan? You can join a Medicare • Visit www.medicare.gov.
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
Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan. • Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call
1-877-486-2048.
What happens to your current coverage if you decide to join a
Medicare Drug Plan? If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for

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