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Important Notice from APWU Health Plan About
Our Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare
OPM has determined that the APWU Health Plan prescription drug coverage is, on average, expected to pay out as much as
the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay for all plan participants and is considered Creditable Coverage.
Thus you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D and pay extra for prescription drug benefit coverage. If you decide to
enroll in Medicare Part D later, you will not have to pay a penalty for late enrollment as long as you keep your FEHB
coverage.
However, if you choose to enroll in Medicare Part D, you can keep your FEHB coverage and your FEHB plan will
coordinate benefits with Medicare.
Remember: If you are an annuitant and you cancel your FEHB coverage, you may not re-enroll in the FEHB Program
Please be advised
If you lose or drop your FEHB coverage and go 63 days or longer without prescription drug coverage that's at least as good
as Medicare's prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium will go up at least 1% per month for every month that
you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go 19 months without Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage,
your premium will always be at least 19 percent higher than what many other people pay. You'll have to pay this higher
premium as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the next Annual
Coordinated Election Period (November 15th through December 31st) to enroll in Medicare Part D.
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Medicare's Low Income Benefits
For people with limited income and resources, extra help paying for a Medicare prescription drug plan is
available. Information regarding this program is available through the Social Security Administration (SSA)
online at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
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You can get more information about Medicare prescription drug plans and the coverage offered in your area from these places:
- Visit www.medicare.gov for personalized help,
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
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