How Do I Know If Health Plan Is Creditable?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A group health plan's prescription drug coverage is considered creditable

if its actuarial value equals or exceeds the actuarial value of standard Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage

. Prescription drug coverage that does not meet this standard is called “non-creditable.”

What is considered creditable coverage?

Creditable coverage is

a health , prescription drug, or other health benefit plan that meets a minimum set of qualifications

. Types of creditable coverage plans include group and individual health plans, and student health plans, as well as a variety of government-sponsored or government-provided plans.

Who provides a letter of creditable coverage?

A certificate of Creditable Coverage (COCC) is a document provided by

your previous insurance carrier

that proves that your insurance has ended. This includes the name of the member to whom it applies as well as the coverage effective date and cancelation date.

What is a non creditable plan?

Non-creditable coverage: A health plan's prescription drug coverage is non-creditable when the amount the plan expects to pay, on average, for prescription drugs for individuals covered by the plan in the coming year is less than that which standard Medicare prescription drug coverage would be expected to pay.

Can creditable coverage notice be emailed?

Notices of creditable/non-creditable coverage may be included in annual enrollment materials,

sent in separate mailings or delivered electronically

.

What is considered creditable coverage for Medicare Part D?

Under §423.56(a) of the final regulation, coverage is creditable

if the actuarial value of the coverage equals or exceeds the actuarial value of standard prescription drug coverage

under Medicare Part D, as demonstrated through the use of generally accepted actuarial principles and in accordance with CMS actuarial …

Is Medicare Part A and B considered creditable coverage?


If you have through a large employer, it will qualify as creditable coverage for Medicare Part A and Part B, provided it covers as much as or more than original Medicare

.

What entities are required to provide a disclosure of creditable coverage status to CMS?

Creditable Coverage Disclosure to CMS


Entities that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals

must disclose to CMS whether the coverage is “creditable prescription drug coverage”. This disclosure is required whether the entity's coverage is primary or secondary to Medicare.

Is Fehb considered creditable coverage?

Because all FEHB Program plans have as good or better coverage than Medicare,

they are considered to offer “creditable coverage.”

So, if you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan now, but change your mind later and you are still enrolled in FEHB, you can do so without paying a late enrollment penalty.

Are marketplace plans creditable coverage?


Marketplace coverage isn't creditable coverage for Parts A and B

because it's not required to be as good as Original Medicare. This means that you'll need to pay penalties after the first 12 months if you delay coverage.

Why is creditable coverage important?

Creditable drug coverage matters because

it may allow you to delay enrolling in Medicare and avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty

. The penalty is charged if you enroll in a Medicare Part D plan after your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) ends and don't qualify for an exception.

How do I know if my Medicare Part D credit is creditable?

Prescription drug coverage is creditable

if the actuarial value of the coverage equals or exceeds the actuarial value of standard prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D

, as demonstrated through the use of generally accepted actuarial principles and in accordance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services …

Is Express Scripts creditable coverage?

Enroll in Express Scripts Medicare By selecting this option you are choosing to enroll in Express Scripts Medicare, the State Health Plan's Medicare prescription drug program.

This coverage is considered creditable coverage

.

Does GoodRx meet Medicare minimum standards?

Let's go back to your initial question, “Why do I need insurance if I can use GoodRx?” GoodRx is NOT insurance.

If you have Medicare you have a requirement to be enrolled in an approved (creditable) Prescription Drug Plan.

When should I send a creditable coverage notice?

At a minimum, the CMS creditable coverage disclosure notice must be provided at the following times:

Within 60 days after the beginning date of the plan year for which the entity is providing the form

; Within 30 days after the termination of the prescription drug plan; and.

What is the annual creditable coverage disclosure notice?

Creditable Coverage Model Notice Letters


Entities that provide prescription drug coverage to Medicare Part D eligible individuals must notify these individuals whether the drug coverage they have is creditable or non-creditable

.

Can Medicare Part D notices be emailed?


CMS allows employers to send Medicare Part D notices electronically

and has stated that employers who follow the general electronic disclosure rules set by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for other group health plan information will be deemed to have met their Medicare Part D Notice obligations.

What are the 4 phases of Medicare Part D coverage?

  • Stage 1. Annual Deductible.
  • Stage 2. Initial Coverage.
  • Stage 3. Coverage Gap.
  • Stage 4. Catastrophic Coverage.

What makes a prescription plan creditable?

A group health plan's prescription drug coverage is considered creditable

if its actuarial value equals or exceeds the actuarial value of standard Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage

. Prescription drug coverage that does not meet this standard is called “non-creditable.”

What is Medicare creditable?

The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) requires entities (whose policies include prescription drug coverage) to notify Medicare eligible policyholders whether their prescription drug coverage is creditable coverage, which means that

the coverage is expected to pay on average as much as the standard Medicare prescription

How do I report creditable coverage to CMS?

All entities must

complete Box A of the on-line Disclosure to CMS web page form

. If all options offered by your plan are creditable, you must complete Box B of the Creditable Coverage Notice to CMS. If all options offered by your plan are non-creditable, you must complete Box C of the Creditable Coverage Notice to CMS.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.