Current News and Events

Medicare Part D Notification Requirements

September 20th, 2019

Employers sponsoring a group health plan with prescription drug benefits are required to notify their Medicare-eligible participants and beneficiaries as to whether the drug coverage provided under the plan is “creditable” or “noncreditable.” This notification must be provided prior to October 15th each year. Also, following the plan’s annual renewal, the employer must notify the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) of the creditable status of the
drug plan.

This information serves to summarize these requirements in more detail.

What are the Notification Requirements About?

Medicare Part D, the Medicare prescription drug program, imposes a higher premium on beneficiaries who delay enrollment in Part D after initial eligibility unless they have employer-provided coverage that is creditable (meaning equal to or better than coverage provided under Part D). Employers that provide prescription drug benefits are required to notify Medicare-eligible individuals annually as to whether the employer-provided benefit is creditable or non-creditable
so that these individuals can decide whether or not to delay Part D enrollment. Also, the employer must annually notify CMS as to whether or not the employer plan is creditable.

Participant Notice

In order to assist employers in their compliance obligations, CMS has issued participant disclosure model notices for both creditable and non-creditable coverage, which can be found here. (notices last updated by CMS for use on or after April 1, 2011).

These model notices, when appropriately modified, will serve as a proper notice for purposes of this requirement. Spanish notices are also provided at the above link.

Download the full PDF here.