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Medicare Part D Glossary
A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X Y Z


Letter A
Jump to:
» Administration on Aging » appeal
» advocate » assets
» AEP or Annual Election Period / Annual Open Enrollment Period / Annual Coordinated Election Period » authorized representative
» annual notice of change



Administration on Aging
The Older Americans Act of 1965 established the AoA, which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to develop a comprehensive, coordinated and cost-effective system of long-term care that helps elderly individuals to maintain their dignity in their homes and communities.
advocate
A person who gives you support or protects your rights.
AEP or Annual Election Period / Annual Open Enrollment Period / Annual Coordinated Election Period
The annual enrollment period (AEP or Annual Coordinated Election Period / Annual Open Enrollment Period) begins on October 15th and continues through December 7th. During the AEP, Medicare beneficiaries can add, change, or drop their Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan coverage. Changes in Medicare plan coverage during the AEP will take effect on January 1st. After the close of the AEP, most people will only have a limited opportunity to change their Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan coverage until the next AEP or Open Enrollment Period. Please note: Based on Medicare’s usage, we also use the term annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) interchangeably with AEP (Annual Enrollment Period or Annual Coordinated Election Period). However, when you are enrolling in a Medicare plan, you may see "AEP" as an enrollment period option meaning the annual Open Enrollment Period. If you are enrolling between October 15th and December 7th, you will want to select AEP on your enrollment application as the enrollment period. Terms related to AEP include: IEP, MA-OEP, and SEP.
annual notice of change
This is a notice provided by the insurance company that explains which benefits have changed and how they have changed for the upcoming plan year. It is a notice required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
appeal
An appeal is a special kind of complaint you can make if the plan declines to cover prescription drugs you want or refuses to pay for drugs you've already received. You can also appeal if your plan decides to stop covering drugs you're currently receiving. There is a specific process you and your prescription drug plan must use when you appeal one of its decisions.
assets
Property you own that the government may review when you apply for assistance. For help with the costs of a Medicare prescription drug plan, the government counts cash or any property that can be turned into cash within 20 days. This includes checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and 401(k) plans, stocks, bonds, and similar items. It does not include your primary home, or certain property related to burial expenses.
authorized representative
The person you designate to assist or handle affairs related to your health care services. This may be someone you designate as a Power of Attorney, a family member, friend, caregiver, or it may be an advocate you assign to assist with an exception, appeal or grievance.




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Tips & Disclaimers
  • Q1Medicare®, Q1Rx®, and Q1Group® are registered Service Marks of Q1Group LLC and may not be used in any advertising, publicity, or for commercial purposes without the express authorization of Q1Group.
  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
  • Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information on our site.
  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
  • We are an independent education, research, and technology company. We are not affiliated with any Medicare plan, plan carrier, healthcare provider, or insurance company. We are not compensated for Medicare plan enrollments. We do not sell leads or share your personal information.
  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.
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