Plans Offered by Casanova Ins (click on icons on right for plans, pricing and formularies):

• UnitedHealthcare
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Aetna/SilverScript

Overview:  Medicare prescription drug coverage is an optional benefit.  Medicare offers it to everyone with Medicare.  Even if you do not take prescriptions now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan because if you do not enroll in one when you’re first eligible, and you don’t have creditable prescription drug coverage (such as a group health plan) you’ll likely pay a late enrollment penalty of 1% for each month you did not have coverage.  For example, if you do not enroll in a plan when you first enroll in Medicare Parts A&B because you do not think you need it since you’re not taking any medications, and then 24 months later you need to start taking a medication and want a prescription drug plan your penalty will be 24% on top of what the prescription drug plan will cost.  The penalty never goes away.

Two Ways to Get a Plan:  

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) add drug coverage to Original Medicare.  You MUST have Part A, and/or Part B to apply & enroll in a PDP.
• Medicare Advantage Plans (like HMOs of PPOs) will have a prescription drug plan included in the plan.  There are plans that DO NOT a prescription drug card for those who may already have prescription drug coverage through TriCare for example.  You MUST have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan.

IMPORTANT: If you have employer of union coverage call your benefits administrator before you make any change or sign up for any other coverage.  

When Can I Join, Switch, or Drop a Medicare Drug Plan?

• When you first become eligible for Medicare you join during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).  This period begins 3 months before your 65th birthday month, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after your birthday month for a total of 7 months to get enrolled.
• Special Enrollment Period: After your IEP is over, you may have a chance to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).  If you didn’t sign up for Part B (or Part A if you have to buy it) when you were first eligible because you’re covered under a group health plan based on current employment (your own, a spouse’s, or if you’re disabled, a family member’s) you can sign up for Part A and/or B: Anytime you’re still covered by the group health plan; During the 8 month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens first.