Q. What does this letter mean to me?
A. Basically, Dartmouth College is moving to a new plan in order to take advantage of the opportunities the federal government allows toward retiree health plans that offer prescription drug coverage. This move has very little impact on you and your family but will assist in maintaining the long-term viability of retiree health insurance coverage, in addition to providing a level of assistance to qualified low income members. You will receive a new SilverScript ID Card in place of your current CVS Caremark card, which will reflect your Medicare Part D coverage as well as the +Wrap component. Please continue using your CVS Caremark card through December 31, 2012 to ensure proper claims processing.
Q. Who will be affected by this change?
A. This will apply to those covered under the Dartmouth College Medicare Supplement (DCMS) plan – including retirees and their dependents. If you are retired but not yet eligible for Medicare, this will not affect you until you become Medicare eligible.
Q. Will this move affect any medical services that I receive or what I pay for my doctor visits?
A. No, the SilverScript plan only covers pharmacy services. Your supplemental medical coverage will also be changing in January 2013–from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to Cigna. Dartmouth will send you additional information about this change.
Q. How will the enhancement to the pharmacy coverage affect my monthly statement?
A. The amount you pay for your retiree health plan and the premium subsidy you receive will remain the same. Your monthly statement from Dartmouth will now reflect your household instead of each person receiving their own separate statement. If you do not have a spouse/same sex partner utilizing the plan, your monthly statement (if you receive one) will remain unchanged. If you do not receive a monthly statement because you receive a 100% Retiree Health premium subsidy from Dartmouth, you will continue to not receive a statement.
Q. What is a Retiree Health premium subsidy?
A. This is the amount Dartmouth College pays toward your Dartmouth College Medicare Supplement (DCMS) plan (retiree health) premium.
Q. Will I need a new Pharmacy card?
A. Yes, SilverScript through CVS Caremark, will send you a new card. When you go to the pharmacy you will only need to show them your new SilverScript card, which will include your Medicare D and Wrap (or supplemental) coverage. You do not need to go to a CVS pharmacy for your prescriptions. There is a broad network of pharmacies available to you. The list of pharmacies will be available on the SilverScript website.
Q. If I'm "group enrolled" into Medicare Part D, how will this affect the way I receive and pay for prescription drug services now?
A. Your pharmacy experience should not change.
Q. Will this affect the way I receive healthcare services?
A. No, this enhancement pertains only to prescription drugs purchases.
Q. Can I opt out of the prescription drug plan but remain in the medical portion of the plan?
A. No, the DCMS plan is one plan that provides both medical and prescription drug coverage. Your options are to either enroll in the plan or enroll in another private insurance plan. There is no option to pick and choose separate components at this time. You will have the opportunity to opt in or out of the plan during the annual Open Enrollment period, or midyear if you have a qualifying status change. Contact the Benefits Office at (603) 646-3588 for more information.
Q. What happens to the subsidy if I, as the Dartmouth retiree, should die?
A. For spouses/same sex partners who survive after the Dartmouth retiree's death, the retiree health premium subsidy will end, as it does now. However, the federal reimbursement Dartmouth receives will then be returned to the spouse/same sex partner in the form of a reduced monthly premium. That reduction will be reflected on their itemized monthly statement.
Q. What happens to the subsidy if my spouse/same sex partner should die?
A. If the retiree survives after the spouse/same sex partner's death, the monthly statement would reflect the retiree health plan and subsidy for the retiree only.
Q. If my spouse outlives me, what do they need to do to receive "reduced monthly premiums?" How much will it be?
A. Dartmouth will work with SilverScript at that time to set up a reduced monthly premium. Since federal reimbursement is set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the amount of your premium reduction would be determined according to the federal reimbursement tables at that time. Dartmouth will work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) through SilverScript, to determine the amount that will be applied toward your monthly retiree health premium.
Q. How will I be communicated to regarding the SilverScript and Medicare plans?
A. Dartmouth College, together with SilverScript, will be sending out more details and communications about the new SilverScript plan as we get closer to open enrollment. Please note that since Medicare does not allow PO Box addresses or addresses located outside the United States, you will need to provide Dartmouth College with a US residence address for communications about the plan. If you are already receiving communications from Medicare and they have an address on file for you, please provide Dartmouth with that address as well. You will receive more information about PO Box addresses and non-US addresses in a separate mailing.
Q. What's the difference between Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D?
A. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. Most people don't pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working. Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Most people pay a monthly premium to Medicare for Part B. Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Most people pay a monthly premium toward either a Medicare Advantage (MA) or other private insurance plan that includes a Medicare Part D component. If you participate in the SilverScript plan, your coverage will include Medicare Part D and a supplemental "Wrap" component.
Q. Can I make changes to my benefits? If so, how?
A. You can make changes to your benefits either during the annual open enrollment period, or mid-year if you have a qualifying event. Mid-year requests must be made in writing and submitted to the Benefits Office within 30 days of the qualifying event. You can contact the Office of Human Resources for a Status Change form to make this change. Changes during open enrollment can be communicated online through the FlexOnline benefits system or by returning the Retiree Health Election form. You can contact the Benefits Office at (603) 646-3588 if you need a Retiree Health Election form, if one is not supplied to you during open enrollment.
