VA Benefits and Medicare
Three ways to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty.
1. Enroll in Medicare drug coverage when you're first eligible.
Even if you don’t take drugs now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage to avoid a penalty. You may be able to find a plan that meets your needs with little to no monthly premiums.
2. Enroll in Medicare drug coverage if you lose other creditable coverage.
Creditable Prescription Drug Coverage could include drug coverage from a current or former employer or union, TRICARE, Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or individual health insurance coverage. Your plan must tell you each year if your non-Medicare drug coverage is creditable coverage. If you go 63 days or more in a row without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable prescription drug coverage, you may have to pay a penalty if you sign up for Medicare drug coverage later.
3. Keep records showing when you had other creditable drug coverage, and tell your plan when they ask about it.
If you don’t tell your Medicare plan about your previous creditable prescription drug coverage, you may have to pay a penalty for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.
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