http://www.cobracs.com/Rss/Medicare.ashx Medicare - News & Review 10 Two federal agencies recently released information on 2009 thresholds related to group health benefits. Benefits and insurance professionals can look on these announcements as a reminder that it is never too early to start planning for 2009. http://www.cobracs.com/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080610-3.aspx 10 Jun 2008 How deep and wide is your notice pile? It seems as though employers are inundated with an abundance of notice rules. Consider some of the laws that require employer notices: COBRA, HIPAA portability, HIPAA privacy, FMLA, wage and hour laws and summary plan descriptions. http://www.cobracs.com/Infinisource/News_Review_Articles/news_review20080415-7.aspx 15 Apr 2008 Go to your planning calendar and if November 14, 2006, does not have any reminders or notations, it should. That is the annual Medicare Part D disclosure deadline for employers with group health plans offering prescription drug coverage. http://www.cobracs.com/news/stories/new_review20061010-1.asp 10 Oct 2006 May 15, 2006 marked the end of the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits. It did not mark the end of Medicare Part D-related activity. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) estimates that about 90 percent of the 43 million Medicare Part D eligible Americans now have drug coverage. This coverage may be through an employer/former employer, a Medicare Part D plan, a Medicare Advantage program or some other source. The next enrollment period will begin on November 15, 2006. http://www.cobracs.com/news/stories/new_review20060614-1.asp 14 Jun 2006 Employers who administer their own Medicare Part D notice compliance must update their notices as of May 15, 2006, in accordance with recent guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS recently issued guidance on employer disclosure notices to participants who are eligible for Medicare Part D coverage. In addition, CMS changed its two standard model notices (Creditable Coverage and Non-Creditable Coverage) and added a third, personalized model notice. http://www.cobracs.com/news/stories/new_review20060516-2.asp 16 May 2006 Medicare has always been a difficult topic and the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) has added one more facet of confusion for employers to muddle through. What many employers may not realize is this ruling does affect them with a required notification to be sent no later than November 15, 2005. http://www.cobracs.com/news/stories/newsroom20050920-1.asp 21 Sep 2005 Many employers are aware that, mandated by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), Medicare adds a new prescription drug benefit (Part D) on January 1, 2006. Not as many are aware of what they must do to comply with MMA. This article provides a brief summary of those requirements, which will be analyzed in depth at a September Webinar offered by Infinisource, as well as a short description of a new Part D blanket mailing service that Infinisource will offer to employers. http://www.cobracs.com/news/stories/newsroom20050913-1.asp 13 Sep 2005 There's really only one thing everyone can agree on when it comes to Medicare: It can get a little bewildering. In fact, the definition for bewilder makes one wonder if Medicare wasn't at the forefront when the definition was penned. To bewilder is to confuse, especially with multiple, conflicting situations, objects, or statements. Someone trying to figure out primary and secondary payers in a mix of employer sponsored health plans, COBRA and Medicare may feel bewildered – as though they’ve lost their bearings or become disoriented. http://www.cobracs.com/Infinisource/stories/med3.asp 5 May 2004 COBRA + Medicare = Confusion. Can you help your clients understand when to offer COBRA when Medicare is involved? The last issue of the News Room discussed a released IRS Revenue Ruling that clarified when Medicare entitlement meets the definition of a multiple Qualifying Event and when it extends the time frame for certain people on COBRA. http://www.cobracs.com/Infinisource/stories/med2.asp 14 Apr 2004 The IRS has released guidance clarifying when Medicare entitlement meets the definition of a multiple Qualifying Event and extends the time frame for certain people on COBRA. When an individual elects and pays for COBRA, there are specific events that would extend their COBRA eligibility period. These secondary Qualifying Events include death of an employee, divorce or legal separation, dependent child ceasing to be a dependent, disability determination and an employee’s Medicare entitlement. http://www.cobracs.com/Infinisource/stories/med1.asp 27 Feb 2004