Information sheet subj: Important Medicare information

*Release No. 09-01-04
Sept. 7, 2004*

*SSA plans special Medicare Part B penalty waiver mailing*

*The Social Security Administration will mail a Special Enrollment
Period notice in mid-September to uniformed services beneficiaries who
are entitled to Medicare Part A but are not enrolled in Medicare Part B.*

*The notice will explain that the SSA enrolled the beneficiary in Part B
effective Sept. 1, 2004.*

*This is the result of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) which has a provision that directly
impacts certain Medicare-TRICARE dual-eligible beneficiaries.*

*It eliminates the Medicare Part B surcharge for uniformed services
beneficiaries who were subject to a higher premium (currently paying
more than $66.60 a month) for enrolling in Part B during the years 2001
to 2004.*

*Under the MMA, Medicare Part B premiums will be reduced for these
beneficiaries to the regular monthly premium rate and beneficiaries will
be reimbursed for any surcharges paid in 2004. These refunds will be
provided in Social Security retirement checks. In mid-September, the
Social Security Administration (SSA) will send a statement that clearly
explains these changes.

The legislation also provides the opportunity for uniformed services
beneficiaries who are entitled to Medicare Part A but are not enrolled
in Medicare Part B to enroll in Part B without a premium surcharge.
These beneficiaries will be offered the opportunity to enroll in Part B
during a Special Enrollment Period.
*
*The Part B monthly premium ($66.60) will automatically be deducted from
Social Security retirement checks starting Sept. 1, or if beneficiaries
do not receive a Social Security check, they will be billed the
appropriate amount. The SSA notice includes a form that gives
beneficiaries the option to change their Medicare Part B effective date
or decline enrollment. Anyone who refuses Part B will be ineligible for
TRICARE benefits.

Beneficiaries will have 60 days after the date of the notice to complete
and return the form if they choose to change the effective date or
decline Part B enrollment.  *

*Those who elect an earlier start date will have to pay the past months'
premium amount in a lump sum, but they'll also be able to file Medicare
claims for qualifying health care expenses incurred in those months. *

*Beneficiaries who notify SSA that they are selecting an earlier month
in 2004 as the start date for their Part B enrollment and would find it
hard to pay the past months' premium amount in a lump sum, should take
the completed form and the SSA letter to a local Social Security office
(if they live in the United States, Canada or Mexico) or United States
Foreign Service Post for processing and ask about alternative payment
options. *

*In addition to the SSA letter, affected beneficiaries will also receive
a letter from the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding these changes in
the law. The DoD letter will give beneficiaries a heads-up that they
will soon be receiving a Special Enrollment Period notice from the SSA.*

*This letter also explains that by law, beneficiaries who are entitled
to Medicare Part A, whether based on age, disability, or end-stage renal
disease, must be enrolled in Medicare Part B to retain TRICARE
eligibility. Dual-eligible active duty family members are not required
to purchase Medicare Part B until their active duty sponsor retires. *

*If beneficiaries have questions about enrolling in Medicare Part B,
they may call SSA toll free, at 1-800-772-1213 or visit any Social
Security office.*

*DEERS Registration

Uniformed services beneficiaries also must be registered in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) to remain eligible for
TRICARE benefits. Beneficiaries may update their information in DEERS by
visiting an identification card issuing facility or by contacting the
Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office (DSO) Telephone Center at
(800) 538-9552. To find the nearest identification card issuing
facility, beneficiaries may visit **_www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl_*
<http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl>*.

General Information

For general information about TRICARE benefits, beneficiaries may call
Wisconsin Physicians Service (WPS) TRICARE For Life at 1-866-773-0404 or
visit the TRICARE Web site at **_www.tricare.osd.mil_*
<http://www.tricare.osd.mil/>*. Additional information regarding the
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003
(P.L.108-173) is available at
**_www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/tricare.html_*
<http://www.socialsecurity.gov/legislation/tricare.html>*.*

*If beneficiaries have questions about enrolling in Medicare Part B,
they may call SSA toll free, at 1-800-772-1213 or visit any Social
Security office.*
 

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