“Medicare Quick Bites” is your weekly treat of Medicare information. Hawaii SHIP has created these bite-sized lessons to help you understand this complex federal health insurance, thus “Making Medicare Digestible!” Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get your weekly delivery of Medicare Quick Bites! This week’s treat is the Special Enrollment Period for Part D – Prescription Drug Plan.
If you continue to work past age 65 and receive creditable drug coverage from your employer, you can delay enrolling into Part D coverage for prescription drugs. Employers often send letters to employees, confirming the drug coverage is creditable. “Creditable” means as good or better than Medicare. HOLD ONTO THESE LETTERS AS PROOF OF COVERAGE! Once you lose the drug coverage, you will be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which provides 63 days to enroll into Part D. If you enroll after the SEP, you’ll incur a late enrollment penalty which will be added to the monthly Part D premium.
