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The Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service released new guidelines to benefit plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MCPS-provided medical insurance plans are eliminating financial barriers for members to ensure that retirees and their family members covered by an MCPS health insurance plan receive the medically necessary services to detect and treat COVID-19.
As a result of the new guidelines—
MCPS retirees must submit a completed MCPS Form 455-22, Retiree Benefit Plan Enrollment to enroll in or change their health insurance plan elections.
The following claim-related deadlines are extended to exclude from the deadline period days from March 1, 2020 until 60 days after the end of the national emergency.
In addition, the following COBRA plan provisions also are similarly extended.
Caremark/CVS Health is taking steps to care for our plan members and to help them adhere to their medications.
Relaxing Refill Restrictions
Caremark is waiving early refill limits on 30-day prescriptions for maintenance medications at any in-network pharmacy. Relaxing refill-too-soon limitations allows members to obtain maintenance medication prescriptions ahead of their normal fill schedule. This applies to all retiree prescription plans. The 30-day early fill override is a temporary process in effect for the current COVID-19 emergency situation.
Members to Refill Maintenance Medications
We know that access to needed medication is important to you and your family members during the uncertainty caused by COVID-19. We strongly recommend you take action now for individuals who have long-term maintenance medications to refill eligible maintenance prescriptions for 90-day supplies.
MCPS has a 90-day prescription benefit for maintenance medications at CVS pharmacy and the option of home delivery from CVS Caremark mail service pharmacy with no delivery cost.
Free Home Delivery from CVS Pharmacy
Beginning immediately, CVS pharmacy will waive charges for home delivery of all prescription medications. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraging people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications to stay at home as much as possible, this is a convenient option to avoid coming to the pharmacy for refills or new maintenance prescriptions.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides for a 100 percent subsidy of COBRA premiums from April 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 for Assistance Eligible Individuals (AEIs). To qualify, AEIs must have experienced a COBRA qualifying event other than a voluntary termination of employment. The subsidy is not available to people who voluntarily left their jobs.
Please note the following:
For further information, contact Benefit Strategies by telephone at 888-401-3539 or ERSC at 301-517-8100 or email ERSC.