News  DDS Medicare Part D 2024 Update

                      Commonwealth of Massachusetts

            Executive Office of Health & Human Services
                Department of Developmental Services

                      Office of Quality Managemnt

      DDS Medicare Part D 2024 Update- Revised 11/9/2023

For plan enrollment and information about the 2024 Medicare Part D prescription plans, please visit www.medicare.gov.

Any person supported by DDS who has Medicaid (MassHealth or CommonHealth) and Medicare is considered “dually eligible” and should be enrolled in one of the 2 Low Income Subsidy (LIS) plans available in 2024 in Massachusetts. They are:

• Wellcare Classic (PDP)

• AARP Medicare Rx Basic from UHC (PDP) (name change from Humana [Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP)]

Note: Clear Spring Health Value Rx is terminated due to being sanctioned by CMS.

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 2023 will automatically get the LIS for the rest of 2023 and for all of 2024.

Anyone who was found automatically eligible for the 2023 LIS but was not an active MassHealth full or partial dual member in July 2023 will receive a GREY letter in the next few weeks from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and Social Secruity Administration (SSA) notifying them that they will not be automatically eligible for LIS in 2024 due to the loss of Medicaid for Medicare Savings Program membership. They will need to apply for the LIS and the GREY letter will include an application. People should apply for the 2024 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:  People who are dually eligible (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 for those who:

• Have a current plan terminating at the end of 2023

• Are enrolled in an auto assigned 2023 plan and the plan’s 2023 premium will be more than the regional 2024 LIS amount (the “benchmark”).

 The enrollment period is Oct.15 – Dec. 7, 2023 and the plan will be effective Jan.1, 2024.

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, please contact Laney Bruner-Canhoto, DDS Assistant Commissioner of Quality Management:

  • laney.bruner-canhoto@mass.gov

  • 617-624-7740