The following notice from the College regarding Medicare Part D Prescription drug coverage may be confusing because of the legal language used by the government.

We want to advise you that you should NOT enroll in Medicare Part D as long as you can continue coverage under the College's retiree medical and prescription plans. You may be bombarded with tons of mailings from insurance companies or see the ads on TV. However, since your coverage through Community College of Philadelphia is even better than Medicare Part D, you do not need to enroll with any of these companies.

We understand that this may be confusing. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Benefits Department at . 

Important Notice About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Community College of Philadelphia and the prescription drug coverage available for people with Medicare. It also tells you where to find more information to help you make decisions about your prescription drug coverage.

1. January 1, 2007, Medicare prescription drug coverage became available to everyone with Medicare.
2. Community College of Philadelphia has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the college is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much, or even more than the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay.
3. Read this notice carefully – it explains the options you have under Medicare prescription drug coverage, and can help you decide whether or not you want to enroll.

You may have heard about Medicare's prescription drug coverage, and wondered how it would affect you. Community College of Philadelphia has determined that your prescription drug coverage with the college is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay.

Starting January 1, 2007, prescription drug coverage became available to everyone with Medicare through Medicare prescription drug plans. All Medicare prescription drug plans will provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans might also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.

Because your existing coverage is on average at least as good as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay extra if you later decide to enroll in Medicare coverage.

People with Medicare can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan from October 15 through December 7. However, because you have existing prescription drug coverage that, on average, is as good as Medicare coverage, you can choose to join a Medicare prescription drug plan later. Each year after that, you will have the opportunity to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan between October 15 and December 7. You should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered, with the coverage and cost of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area.

If you do decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan and drop
your Community College of Philadelphia's prescription drug coverage, be aware that you may not be able to get this coverage back.

Your prescription drug coverage with Community College of Philadelphia is as follows:

In addition, your current coverage pays for other health expenses in addition to prescription drugs, and you will still be eligible to receive all of your current health benefits, if applicable, if you choose to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.

You should also know that if you drop or lose your coverage with Community College of Philadelphia and do not enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage after your current coverage ends, you may pay more to enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage later. If after December 31, 2016, you go 63 days or longer without prescription drug coverage that is at least as good as Medicare's prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium will go up at least 1% per month for every month after December 31, 2016 that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without coverage, your premium will always be at least 19% higher than what most other people pay. You will have to pay this higher premium as long as you have Medicare coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until next November to enroll.

For more information about this notice or your current prescription drug coverage….

Please contact the Benefits Department, at or visit the CVS Caremark website at https://www.caremark.com/wps/portal to view the most up-to-date prescription list. NOTE: You may receive this notice at other times in the future such as before the next period you can enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage, and if this coverage changes. You also may request a copy.

For more information about your options under Medicare prescription drug coverage:

• Visit www.medicare.gov for personalized help.
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see your copy of the Medicare and You handbook for their telephone number)
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For people with limited income and resources, extra help paying for a Medicare prescription drug plan is available. Information about this extra help is available from the Social Security Administration (SSA). For more information about this extra help, visit SSA online at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Keep this notice. If you enroll in one of the new plans approved by Medicare which offers prescription drug coverage, you may need to give a copy of this notice when you join to show that you are not required to pay a high premium amount (a penalty).

If you drop your coverage with Community College of Philadelphia and enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, you may not be able to get this coverage back later.

Download a Copy for your Records

DATE: OCTOBER 14, 2020
NAME OF ENTITY: COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA
CONTACT: KOI STEVENS, HUMAN RESOURCES
ADDRESS: 1700 SPRING GARDEN STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130
PHONE NUMBER: 215-751-8034