Illinois Cares Rx/Medicare Part D Contingency Plan – Update

The department released a notice on December 29, 2005 and a follow-up notice on January 10, 2006 regarding HFS’s Illinois Cares Rx/Medicare Part D Contingency Plan.

Medicare/Medicaid Dual Eligibles who have been provided emergency coverage by HFS due to Medicare Part D problems will continue to have that coverage through February 27, 2006.

Illinois Cares Rx members assigned to stand-alone Medicare Part D Plans (PDPs) who were given direct coverage due to problems with their PDP enrollment, will continue to be covered until those individuals have been successfully enrolled in their PDP. When they become enrolled in their PDP, their direct HFS coverage will be ended.

Illinois Cares Rx members in non-coordinating Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans will continue to have direct coverage by HFS through February. This will have allowed sufficient time for those individuals to make an informed decision about their Medicare Part D Plan.