News  DDS Medicare Part D 2022 Update

                                   DDS Medicare Part D 2022 Update

Information about the 2022 Medicare Part D prescription plans is available at www.medicare.gov. Plan enrollment can also be done from this site.

Any person supported by DDS who has Medicaid (MassHealth, CommonHealth) and Medicare is considered “dually eligible” and should be enrolled in one of the 6 Low Income Subsidy (LIS) plans available in 2022 in Massachusetts. They are:

• Humana Basic RX Plan
• WellCare Classic
• Aetna Medicare SilverScript Choice
• United Healthcare: AARP Medicare RX Saver Plus
• Cigna Secure RX
• Elixir Rx Secure   

The following 2021 LIS plan will no longer be a plan in 2022

• WellCare Medicare RX Saver
• Express Scripts Medicare-Value

Automatically “deemed” Eligible (Full and Partial Duals)

 All people with Medicare who are active in MassHealth (either full dual or partial dual/ Medicare Savings Programs) for at least one month starting July 2021 will automatically get the LIS for the rest of 2021 and for all of 2022.

Anyone who was found automatically eligible for the 2021 LIS but was not an active MassHealth full or partial dual member in July 2021 will receive a GREY letter in the next few weeks from CMS and SSA notifying them that they will not be automatically eligible for LIS in 2022 due to the loss of Medicaid for Medicare Savings Program membership. They will need to apply for the LIS and it will include an application. People should apply for the 2022 LIS even though they may end up getting it automatically if they regain their MassHealth or Medicare Savings Program eligibility. If they do regain eligibility CMS will send them a PURPLE notice informing them that they now automatically quality for the LIS.

Plan Reassignments:  full duals, partial duals (Medicare Savings Program member), or applied for LIS through SSA and found eligible may be reassigned to a new plan. CMS will send out letters in early November:

• If their current plan is terminating at the end of 2021
• If enrolled in an auto assigned 2021 plan and the plan’s 2022 premium will be more than the regional 2022 LIS amount (the “benchmark”).

 The enrollment period is Oct.15 – Dec. 7, 2021 and the plan will be effective Jan.1, 2022.

REMEMBER: Dually eligible people can change Medicare Part D plans during certain Special Election Periods (SEPs) during the year. They may enroll in a different plan one time during each of the first three quarters in a calendar year (January to March, April to June, July to September). Between the enrollment period (October 15 and December 7), dually eligible people can choose a new plan that will be effective January 1 of the next year.

IMPORTANT:

• All dually eligible people should be in a LIS plan if they want to avoid monthly premiums and have copays reduced or limited.

• Dually eligible people living in DDS funded community residences should have no copays with a LIS plan.

• If you need any help, contact Laney Bruner-Canhoto:
  • laney.bruner-canhoto@mass.gov
  • 617-624-7740