HomeMy WebLinkAboutMedicare Part D Notice• 1 •
Important Notice from City of Georgetown
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 City of Georgetown 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:
Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 20o6 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.
z. City of Georgetown has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the company's Medical
Plans are, 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 15th to
December 7th.
However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also
be eligible for a two z) 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 decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current City of Georgetown coverage will not be affected.
If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your current City of Georgetown coverage, be aware that
you and your dependents may 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 City of Georgetown 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 on the next page 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, and if this coverage through City of Georgetown changes. You also may request a copy of this
notice at any time.
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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 www.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.
Plan Dates January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015
Name of Entity/Sender City of Georgetown
Contact Office Human Resources Department
Address 113 East 8th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626
Phone Number (512) 930-3639
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