Medicare Part D

Medicare Part D Letters


As you may know, Medicare is introducing prescription drug coverage to individuals covered by Medicare effective 1/1/06. As part of this implementation, the federal government required that letters explaining the new benefit be distributed to all employees and retirees, regardless of whether they are currently Medicare eligible or not. Regence sent a letter directly to all Medicare-eligible covered individuals; Kaiser did not. Listed below are the letters that CIS distributed to all Regence and Kaiser covered employees and retirees. Kaiser Members Medicare eligible Non-Medicare eligible (includes actives and retirees) Regence BlueCross BlueShield Members Medicare eligible - credible coverage (currently covered by any Plan I, or Plan V with a $100 or $200 deductible) Medicare eligible - non-credible coverage (currently covered by any Plan V with a $300 or higher deductible) Non-Medicare eligible (includes actives and retirees) - credible coverage (same as above) Non-Medicare eligible (includes actives and retirees) - non-credible coverage (same as above) More Medicare Part D Resources The resources listed below will provide retirees, employees and their family members with information regarding the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits. Access info on Medicare’s web site at www.medicare.gov/pdphome.asp. Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Access Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance Program (SHIBA) info at http://www.oregon.gov/DCBS/SHIBA/index.shtml or call 1-800-722-4134 (Oregon in-state calls only) or locally in Oregon at 1-503-947-7984. TTY users should call 1-503-947-7280. Individuals residing in the following counties can contact Northwest Senior & Disability Services for assistance: Clatsop, Marion, Polk, Tillamook, and Yamhill. You can access their web site at www.nwsds.org for phone numbers and locations of these various offices. "Medicare Drug Coverage: The Basics", a special report prepared by AARP, provides an easy-to-read description of coverages, plan choices, and how to sign up, with real-life examples Access the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) web site at www.oregon.gov/PERS. If you are a PERS member, PERS offers multiple plans that qualify as Medicare "credible" plans for Medicare Part D. You may want to compare their plans and premiums to your current plan.