Post-Enrollment FAQs
Post-Enrollment FAQs
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No. If you changed Medicare Part D plans to another Medicare Part D plan, you will receive a new member ID card from your new Medicare plan that includes the information identifying your new plan. Maybe. In the past, some Medicare plans used the same member ID card for multiple years for members who did not change plans. If you have not yet received a new card for Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage, get in touch with your Medicare plan’s member services department. No. You do not need to notify the Social Security Administration about your Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan premium change. If you have elected to have your monthly premiums automatically deducted from your Social Security check, any increase (or decrease) in monthly plan premiums will automatically be adjusted by Social Security. Within 2 to 3 months. You can expect your Social Security check deductions to begin within 2 to 3 months after the start of the new Medicare plan. Your first deduction will include any previously unpaid premiums. For instance, if deductions begin in February, the first deduction will include both January and February monthly premium payments. So if you did not see your January premium deduction, be sure to budget for less income in February when you will pay two premiums at once. Yes. In order to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be covered by Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. If you qualify for the full Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS or Extra Help), Medicare will auto-enroll you into a Medicare Part D plan that qualifies for your state’s $0 monthly premium. However, you have the right to select your own Medicare Part D plan at any time during the plan year. If you select your own plan, Medicare considers you a “chooser” and does not automatically change your enrollment for the next plan year. You are not being charged for Part D IRMAA, but rather Part B IRMAA. Income related monthly adjustments amounts (IRMAA) are charged if a Medicare beneficiary earns over a certain amount of income. IRMAA is assessed in addition to both Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D premiums. If your medications are not covered by your new Medicare Part D plan, there are at least three steps you can take at this time: Even if you did not change Medicare prescription drug plans, it is possible your new Medicare prescription drug plan has implemented some form of utilization management (or drug usage management) in their formulary to keep costs down and protect their plan members. Yes. If you elect to go with a new Medicare Part D plan and use the same pharmacy, your pharmacy should adjust your prescriptions to and bill your new prescription drug plan automatically – assuming your pharmacy is also a part of your new prescription drug plan’s pharmacy network. Show your pharmacist your new drug plan ID card. Please remember, if your pharmacy is not a preferred network pharmacy for your new Medicare Part D plan, you may pay higher cost-sharing rates. Your Medicare Part D plan coverage begins in January of each year and your Coverage Gap will end December 31. |