What is Medicare
Part D?
Medicare Part D is
prescription drug coverage
provided by private
companies that are approved
to do so by Medicare. You
may choose and join the
Medicare drug plan that
works for you and pay a
monthly premium. All
Medicare Part D drug plans
must provide coverage that
is at least as good as
Medicare’s standard
prescription drug coverage
benefit. If you decide not
to join a Medicare drug plan
when you are first eligible,
you may have to pay a
penalty if you decide to
join later.
What if I already
have prescription drug
coverage?
If you already have
prescription drug coverage,
you should talk to your
current plan, employer
benefits administrator (if
your coverage is through an
employer), or your insurer
before making any changes.
You will be notified about
any changes to your current
prescription drug coverage
so you may decide if you
should join a Medicare drug
plan.
Should I join a
Medicare drug plan even if I
don’t take many prescription
drugs?
You should still consider
joining a Medicare drug plan
in 2006. As we age, most
people need prescription
drugs to stay healthy. For
most people, joining now
means you will pay the
lowest possible monthly
premium. If you choose not
to join when you are first
eligible and later change
your mind, you may pay a
penalty.
When may I join if I
miss the May 15, 2006
deadline?
You will be able to join
November 15 through December
31 of each calendar year.
Your coverage would begin
January 1 of the following
year. If you choose not to
join when you are first
eligible and later change
your mind, you may pay a
penalty.
What are the
out-of-pocket costs for
Medicare prescription drug
coverage?
Your costs will vary
depending on which plan you
choose. Your plan must
provide a standard level of
coverage that is at least as
good as Medicare requires.
What do I need to
know if I have drug coverage
from TRICARE, the Department
of Veteran’s Affairs (VA),
or the Federal Employee
Health Benefits Program (FEHB)?
As long as you still qualify
for drug assistance through
these programs, your TRICARE,
VA, or FEHB prescription
drug coverage is not
changing. You should contact
your benefits administrator
or FEHB insurer for
information about your
TRICARE, VA, or FEHB
coverage before making any
changes if you are thinking
of purchasing approved
Medicare Part D coverage
through a health plan. It
will almost always be to
your advantage to keep your
current coverage without any
changes. If you lose your
TRICARE, VA, or FEHB
coverage and you join a
Medicare drug plan after May
15, 2006, in most cases, you
won’t have to pay a penalty,
as long as you join within
63 days of losing TRICARE,
VA, or FEHB coverage.
Medica Prime
SolutionSM is a
Medicare Cost product
offered by Medica Insurance
Company, an insurance
company with a Medicare Cost
contract. Medicare-eligible
beneficiaries must be
entitled to Part A and
enrolled in Part B or Part B
only to apply. Beneficiaries
must use Medica network
providers to receive their
highest level of benefits,
except for emergency and
urgently needed services
(unless they activate their
Extended Absence Option).
Here is our contact information, please feel free to call
us or email us anytime with any questions you may have.
Telephone
612-991-3546 Fax 763-390-3129 Toll Free 1-877-800-7340
Postal address
515
Pineview Lane N. Plymouth, MN 55441
Electronic mail