Medicare Part D

Important Notice from Leidos About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare 

The key purpose of this notice is to advise you that the prescription drug coverage you have under your Leidos medical plan is expected to pay out, on average, at least as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay in 2023 and 2024. (This is known as "creditable coverage.")

The reason this is important is that if you or a covered dependent are or become eligible for Medicare and you decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan during a subsequent annual enrollment period, you will not be subject to a late enrollment penalty as long as you had creditable coverage within 63 days of your Medicare prescription drug plan enrollment. You should keep this notice with your important records.

Notice of Creditable Coverage

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Leidos and about your options under Medicare's prescription drug coverage. This information can help you decide whether or not you want to join a Medicare drug plan. If you are considering joining, you should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area.  Information about where you can get help to make decisions about your prescription drug coverage is at the end of this notice.

There are two important things you need to know about your current coverage and Medicare’s prescription drug coverage:

1. Medicare prescription drug coverage became available in 2006 to everyone with Medicare. You can get this coverage if you join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that offers prescription drug coverage. All Medicare drug plans provide at least a standard level of coverage set by Medicare. Some plans may also offer more coverage for a higher monthly premium.
2. Leidos has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is therefore considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is Creditable Coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to join a Medicare drug plan.

When Can You Enroll in Medicare

You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from October 15^th to December 7^th.

However, if you lose your current creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will also be eligible for a two (2) month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join a Medicare drug plan.

What Happens To Your Current Coverage If You Decide to Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

If you decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, your current Leidos coverage will not be affected. You can keep your Leidos coverage if you elect a Medicare Part D drug plan.

If you do decide to drop your Leidos prescription drug coverage be aware that you and your dependents may not be able to get this coverage back. 

When Will You Pay A Higher Premium (Penalty) to Join A Medicare Drug Plan?

You should also know that if you drop or lose your coverage with Leidos and do not join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to join a Medicare drug plan later.

If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium will go up at least 1% of the Medicare base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without creditable coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the Medicare base beneficiary premium. You may have to pay this higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. In addition, you may have to wait until the following October to enroll.

For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

You will get a Notice of Creditable Coverage each year before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan. You will also get it if your coverage through Leidos changes. You may request a copy of this notice at any time.

More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the "Medicare & You" handbook. You will get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare prescription drug plans. For more information about Medicare prescription drug plans:

• Visit the Medicare web site
• Call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (see the inside back cover of your copy of the "Medicare & You" handbook for their telephone number) for personalized help,
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

For people with limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit the Social Security Administration (SSA) online, or you call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and, therefore, whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).