Berkshire Senior Online

By Cynthia Gibeau, Shine Coordinator

With the end of the open enrollment period for Prescription Advantage on May 31, 2002, many people mistakenly assume that they must wait for the open enrollment period of March 1, 2003 to May 31, 2003. However, there are three categories in which individuals may apply for Prescription Advantage exclusive of the open enrollment periods:

(A) Persons eligible as adults with disabilities under age 65 may join the Plan at any time.

(B) Beginning April 1, 2002, persons who have reached age 66 and have not previously joined the Plan may join, provided that they apply for enrollment in the Plan within (6) months after the occurrence of one of the following triggering events:

a. the establishment of residency in the Commonwealth;

b. the loss of employer-sponsored health care coverage because:

1. employment ends,

2. An employer stops health care coverage for active or retired employees, or

3. The employer-sponsored health care coverage ends due to insolvency, bankruptcy or involuntary termination of coverage,

4. An individuals’s loss of non-group health care coverage due to insolvency, bankruptcy or involuntary termination of coverage,

5. Loss of Medicare managed care plan coverage because the Medicare managed care plan ceases services for the geographic area in which the person resides,

6. Loss of MassHealth pharmacy benefits.

If you feel you or a member of your family meet any of the criteria above, contact a Shine Counselor through your local Council on Aging or Elder Services can assist you with completing the application. In addition, a Shine Counselor can provide you with information regarding other prescription discount plans so you may decide what would be the best choice for you.