Group health plan sponsors must now provide Medicare Part D "creditable coverage" notices prior to Oct. 15 for 2011 and future years. The Medicare annual enrollment period for Part D (prescription drug coverage) has been changed to Oct. 15 - Dec. 7. Before this year, the enrollment period was Nov. 15 - Dec. 15 but was changed under PPACA.

Plan sponsors that offer prescription drug coverage are required to notify Medicare‐eligible plan participants (employees and dependents) as to whether their prescription drug coverage is "creditable coverage" which means the coverage is expected to pay on average at least as much as the standard Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. These notices must be provided at least once annually, prior to the beginning of the Part D annual enrollment period, and also if the employer-provided coverage changes or if the individual requests a copy of the notice.

The CMS model notices for creditable coverage and non-creditable coverage have been amended to reflect the Oct. 15 date. Click here to access them.