Important Notice from
Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan
About Your Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan 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 and 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.

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. Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered through the Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan and Blue Cross Blue Shield is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare 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 Join A Medicare Drug Plan?
You can join a Medicare drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare and each year from November 15th through December 31st. 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 Plan?
If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your current Teamsters Union 25 Health Services &
Insurance Plan-sponsored coverage will be affected. Please remember that prescription drug coverage offered through Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan is part of your medical plan coverage. If you decide to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan and drop your Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan-sponsored prescription drug coverage, be aware that you and your dependents will also be dropping your medical plan coverage. You will not be able to re-enroll in a Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan-sponsored medical plan at a later date.

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 current coverage with Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan and don’t join a Medicare drug plan within 63 continuous days after your current coverage ends, you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) to enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage later.

If you go 63 continuous days or longer without creditable prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by 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 November to join.

For More Information About This Notice Or Your Current Prescription Drug Coverage…
Please contact TeamstersCare Member Services at 617-241-9220. NOTE: You will receive this notice of creditable coverage each year. You will also get it before the next period you can join a Medicare prescription drug plan, and if this coverage through Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan changes. You also may request a copy of this notice at any time.

For More Information About Your Options Under Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage…
More detailed information about Medicare plans that offer prescription drug coverage is in the “Medicare & You” handbook. You’ll get a copy of the handbook in the mail every year from Medicare. You may also be contacted directly by Medicare drug plans.

For more information about Medicare prescription drug coverage:

• Visit www.medicare.gov for personalized help;
• 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.

If you have limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. For information about this extra help, visit Social Security on the web at
www.socialsecurity.gov, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan
16 Sever Street
Sullivan Square
617.241.9220
Charlestown, MA 02129-1305

2008