We are required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide this notice to all Medicare Part D eligible employees and dependents who are covered under the University’s Medical Plans. If you or your dependents are not eligible for Medicare, this notice does not pertain to you.

Please read this notice carefully and keep it where you can find it. This notice has information about your current prescription drug coverage with Villanova University 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. 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. Villanova University has determined that the prescription drug coverage offered by the University’s plans is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is considered Creditable Coverage.

Because your existing coverage is, on average, at least as good as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you later decide to 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. This may mean that you may have to wait to join a Medicare drug plan and that you may pay a higher premium (a penalty) if you join later. You may pay that higher premium (a penalty) as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. However, if you lose creditable prescription drug coverage, through no fault of your own, you will be eligible for a sixty (60) day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) because you lost creditable coverage to join a Part D plan. In addition, if you lose or decide to leave employer/union sponsored coverage, you will be eligible to join a Part D plan at that time using an Employer Group Special Enrollment Period. You should compare your current coverage, including which drugs are covered at what cost, with the coverage and costs of the plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage in your area.

If you decide to join a Medicare drug plan, your Villanova University coverage will be affected. See below for more information about what happens to your current coverage if you join a Medicare drug plan.
Your current coverage pays for other health expenses in addition to prescription drug. If you enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, you and your eligible dependents will no longer be eligible to receive all of your current health and prescription drug benefits.

If you do decide to join a Medicare drug plan and drop your Villanova University prescription drug coverage, be aware that you and your dependents may not be able to get this coverage back. You should also know that if you drop or lose your coverage with the University 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 join a Medicare drug plan later.

If you go 63 continuous days or longer without prescription drug coverage that’s at least as good as Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, your monthly premium may go up by at least 1% of the base beneficiary premium per month for every month that you did not have that coverage. For example, if you go nineteen months without coverage, your premium may consistently be at least 19% higher than the 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:

Contact the person listed below for further information or call Human Resources at 610-519-7900. NOTE: You will receive this notice each year. You will receive it before the next period you can join a Medicare drug plan, and if this coverage through Villanova University changes. You also may request a copy of this notice.

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 the Medicare website.
• 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 the Social Security website, or call them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Remember: Keep this Creditable Coverage notice. If you decide to join one of the Medicare drug plans, you may be required to provide a copy of this notice when you join to show whether or not you have maintained creditable coverage and whether or not you are required to pay a higher premium (a penalty).

Date: April 15, 2008
Name of Entity/Sender: Villanova University
Contact--Position/Office: Mary M. Burke, Associate Director, Human Resources
Address: 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085
Phone Number: 610-519-7900