WAHIT is providing this page to assist you in
your understanding of Medicare Part D as it
relates to coverage under WAHIT. Employers and
Plan Administrators should consult with their
employment law or employee benefits counsel on
compliance with Medicare Part D notice
requirements.
Starting January 1, 2006, Medicare began
offering insurance coverage for prescription
drugs through Medicare prescription drug plans
and other health plan options. It has been
determined that prescription drug coverage with
WAHIT is, on average for all plan participants,
expected to pay out as much as the standard
Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay.
Because the coverage under WAHIT is at least
as good as standard Medicare prescription drug
coverage, Medicare-eligible enrollees that have
prescription drug coverage through WAHIT, may
keep this coverage and not pay extra if they
later decide to enroll in Medicare coverage.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services) announced reporting requirements for
employers sponsoring healthcare coverage which
includes prescription drug coverage for their
employees. Please reference the chart below for
notifications sent on behalf of WAHIT.
Description
Notice
PBC Notice
As of November 1, 2005, Premera Blue Cross sent the standard Center for Medicare
and Medicaid services (CMS) creditable coverage notices to
Medicare-eligible group plan members. Notification also
included members who would reach age 65 between November 1, 2005 and
December 31, 2006.
BSI Notice
In March, 2006,
Benefit Solutions, Inc. (BSI) sent notification to employer group
administrators of their obligation to
disclose the creditability status of their sponsored
prescription drug plans to CMS.
PBC
HSA Creditability Notice
Premera Blue Cross has
prepared a response to answer the question of why/how it was
determined that WAHIT HSA plans are creditable.
PBC 2006 Notice
By November 8, 2006 all
creditable coverage notices were mailed to Medicare-eligible
group plan members along with an FAQ. Notification also
includes members who would reach age 65 before December 31, 2007.
Employer Notice
By November 8, 2006, BSI sent notification to employer group administrators of creditability
status of WAHIT sponsored prescription drug plans. A copy of
the Premera Blue Cross (PBC 2006 Notice, above) was included
with the Employer Notice.
PBC 2007 Notice
By November 2007 all
creditable coverage notices were mailed to Medicare-eligible
group plan members. Notification also
includes members who would reach age 65 before December 31, 2007.
Employer Notice
By November 2007, BSI sent notification to employer group administrators of creditability
status of WAHIT sponsored prescription drug plans. A copy of
the Premera Blue Cross (PBC 2007 Notice, above) was included
with the Employer Notice.
