Important Notice from Douglas County 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 Douglas County and prescription drug coverage available for people who are eligible to receive Medicare.  It also explains the options you have under Medicare prescription drug coverage and can help you decide whether or not you want to enroll.  At the end of this notice is information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage.

1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare through Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage Plans that offer prescription drug coverage.  All Medicare prescription drug plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.

2. Douglas County has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by Douglas County's group plan is, on the average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay and is considered Creditable Coverage.

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 a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan.

Individuals can enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan when they first become eligible for Medicare and each year from November 15th through December 31st.  Beneficiaries leaving employer/union coverage may be eligible for a Special Enrollment to sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.

You should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area.  Douglas County's group plan pays for other health expenses in addition to prescription drug.  If you enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, you and your eligible dependents will still be eligible to receive all of your current health and prescription drug benefits for as long as you are an active employee.

If you decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan and drop your Douglas County group plan prescription drug coverage, be aware that you and your dependents may not be able to get this coverage back.  Please contact us for more information about what happens to your coverage if you enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan.

You should also know that if you drop or lose your coverage with Douglas County and don't enroll in a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan after your current coverage ends, you may pay more (a penalty) to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug coverage plan later.

If you 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 nineteen months without coverage, your premium will always be at least 19% 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 following November to enroll. 

For more information about this notice or your current prescription drug coverage, contact our office at (541) 440-4405.  Note:  You will receive this notice annually and at other times in the future such as before the next period you can enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage, and if this coverage through Douglas County changes.  you may also request a copy.

More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the "Medicare & You" handbook.  Persons who are receiving Medicare will get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year fro Medicare.  They may also be contacted directly by Medicare prescription drug plans.  For more information about Medicare prescription drug plans:

• Visit www.medicare.gov

• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see copy of the "Medicare & You" handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help

• Call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).  TTY users should call 877-486-2048

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

Date:                              May 15, 2006

Name of Entity/Sender:  Douglas County

Contact and Position:    Tina Roy, Human Resources Analyst

Address:                        1036 SE Douglas Ave, Roseburg, OR 97470

Phone Number:              (541) 440-4405