Mental Health Part D News Alert

January 9, 2007

From CMS:  Clarification of Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) for LIS Eligible Beneficiaries for 2007:

1. Similar to 2006, individuals who become eligible for LIS in 2007 will have (1) opportunity to choose a Part D plan. If the individual does not choose a plan before CMS facilitates enrollment of the individual into a plan, the individual retains (1) opportunity to make a change under this SEP.

2. NEW for 2007: Individuals who already had LIS prior to January 1, 2007, will have (1) opportunity in 2007 to enroll into or disenroll from a Part D plan. This SEP extends throughout 2007. Individuals who fall into this category include those who qualified in 2006 and continue to qualify in 2007.

Also keep in mind that individuals who lose their low-income subsidy eligibility as of January 1, 2007, as a result of the LIS re-determination process also have an SEP. This SEP runs from January through March 2007 and allows for (1) enrollment election.