HEALTH PLAN NOTICES 11. Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and When Can You Join A Medicare Drug Plan? Medicare You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This Medicare and each year from October 15th to December 7th. However, if notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no with your employer and about your options under Medicare’s fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan. whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, Medicare Drug Plan? including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and Your current coverage pays for other health expenses, in addition to costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your prescription drugs. If you are actively employed and decide to join a area. Information about where you can get help to make decisions Medicare drug plan, your current medical coverage will not be affected; about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice. There you can keep this coverage if you elect part D and this plan will are two important things you need to know about your current coordinate with Part D coverage. coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage: 1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to If you are actively employed and you decide to join a Medicare drug plan everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a and drop your current medical coverage, be aware that you and your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan dependents may be able to get this coverage back at the next open (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All enrollment period or upon a qualifying status change if you remain Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by otherwise eligible to enroll in the Plan. Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher If you are no longer actively employed and you decide to join a Medicare monthly premium. drug plan and drop your current coverage, be aware that you and your 2. Your employer has determined that the prescription drug coverage dependents will not be able to get this coverage back. offered by the employer sponsored medical plans are, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and are 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.