If you are eligible to enroll in Medicare, you will need to make some important decisions as you approach your 65th birthday. We are frequently asked questions pertaining to Medicare and the Association Benefit Plan (ABP). We have provided some helpful websites in understanding the Medicare Program.
Please remember, if you are an annuitant and you terminate your federal (FEHB) coverage, you may NOT re-enroll in the FEHB Program.
MEDICARE B
Once enrolled in Medicare B, you will have two cards, one for Medicare and one for the Association Benefit Plan (ABP). At your physician’s office present both cards and they will submit the claim to Medicare for you. Medicare will process the claim and coordinate it with ABP. You will receive two Explanations of Benefits, one from Medicare and one from ABP.
Liberty Home Delivery Program for Diabetics with Medicare B
Testing supplies are paid by Medicare at 100% (after Medicare deductible is met), and therefore should not be acquired using your Plan drug card.
Effective October 1, 2003, participants were no longer able to use the Plan’s drug card in acquiring diabetic testing supplies using either the retail or mail order program. Currently participants make other arrangements and acquire these supplies through a supplier that coordinates with Medicare for reimbursement.
In order to assist our members, Compass Rose Benefits Group (Compass Rose) has tailored a program with Liberty Medical Supply to provide Medicare B primary participants one-stop shopping for both their diabetic testing supplies and diabetic related medications.
The Liberty program will provide eligible participants the following:
- Automatic home delivery every 90 days of diabetic supplies (paid at 100% after Medicare B deductible is satisfied)
- Automatic home delivery of diabetic related medications for up to a 90 day supply (normal plan mail-order copays apply)
- No claim forms to file with Medicare; Liberty files your claim(s)
- No inconvenient trips to the pharmacy
For eligible Medicare B participants who would like to take advantage of the Liberty offering and enroll now, please call Liberty on 866-245-1353. Please identify yourself as Diversified Federal Groups. If you have any questions regarding this program, please call Compass Rose on 703-613-7215 to speak to a Compass Rose representative.
LabOne
If Medicare B is your primary payer for medical expenses, the Lab Card benefit does not apply.
MEDICARE D
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has determined that the Association Benefit Plan’s prescription drug coverage is, on average comparable to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage; thus you need not enroll in Medicare Part D and pay extra for prescription drug benefits. 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 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage. However, we would like to bring to your attention that should you decide some time in the future to take Medicare D, please retain the notice on the inside of your 2006 ABP health plan brochure. This notice proves that you had a FEHB health plan in 2005. Please retain for your records.
If you decide to enroll in Medicare Part D, you can keep your FEHB coverage and the Association Benefit Plan will coordinate benefits with Medicare.
If you lose or drop your FEHB coverage, you will have to pay a higher Part D premium if you go without equivalent prescription drug coverage for a period of 63 days or longer. If you enroll in Medicare Part D at a later date, your premium will increase one percent per month for each month you did not have equivalent prescription drug 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 most other people pay. You may also have to wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll in Medicare Part D.
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.ssa.gov or call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
You can get more information about Medicare prescription drug plans and the coverage offered in your 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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