Table of Contents

Getting Started - The Basics

About Enrolling

Costs and Coverage

Problems Getting Your Drugs Under Your Plan

Other Common Problems / Changing Plans

Information for Medicare Providers

Can I Change Plans?

If you enrolled in a Part D plan that you are not happy with or that is not meeting your prescription needs, you can change to a different Part D plan. However, there are rules as to when you can change Part D plans, depending on your circumstances.

• Most people can only change to a new Part D plan once a year, and must enroll in the new plan between November 15th and December 31st. The new Plan will then be effective January 1.

There are various Special Enrollment Periods for special circumstances. For example, if you move into or out of a nursing home, you have 2 months after the move to join a new Part D Plan. Likewise, if you involuntarily lose other creditable prescription drug coverage, you have 2 months to join a Part D Plan. For more information on Special Enrollment Periods, contact 1-800-MEDICARE, your local Area Agency on Aging or Legal Services for the Elderly’s Medicare Part D Unit 1-877-774-7772.

NOTE: If you have Medicare and either MaineCare, a Medicare Savings Program (the “Buy In”), or LIS through Social Security, you may switch your Part D Plan at any time, and your new coverage will take effect the following month. But you need to enroll in a “benchmark” plan, or you will have to pay part (or a larger part) of the premium yourself. In 2009, basic (not enhanced) Part D Plans with premiums of $28.12 or less are “benchmark” plans.

Contact the Maine State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-877-353-3771, or TTY: 1-800-750-5353, for more information.