News Alert for mentalhealthpartd.org

CMS has begun sending auto-enrollment letters to the 5.5 million people with Medicare who are also eligible for Medicaid, known as dual eligibles. The purpose of the letter is to let the dual eligibles know which low-premium prescription drug plan (PDP) they will be enrolled in on January 1, 2006, the day their state Medicaid program ends and the first day the new Part D benefit takes effect.

It is important for you to know the following:

• CMS is sending the letters first class so that all undeliverables will be returned to them and follow-up letters can be sent to the correct address.

• Dual eligibles have the option of selecting another PDP that is more appropriate for them before January 1 or any time thereafter. Should they select a plan with a higher premium, they will have to pay the difference between the low-premium maximum and the higher premium.

A copy of the auto-enrollment letter is available on the CMS web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/Enrollment-Q&A-10-20-05-with-cover-sheet.pdf .