Arkansas BlueCross Blue Shield Medi-Pak Choice
Text Size Call a Benefit Specialist
Home Medicare Plans Supplement Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Dental Plans
2011 Medi-Pak Rx (PDP) Enrollment Guidelines

To enroll in Medi-Pak Rx, you must:
1. Be entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Medicare Part B, as of the effective date of coverage.
2. Reside in the service area (Arkansas)
3. Be in one of these enrollment periods:
  • Annual Election Period (AEP)
  • Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) (Generally, when you first become eligible for Medicare Part A.)
  • Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

Annual Election Period
Annual Election Period for 2010 is November 15 – December 31; for years 2011 and beyond, it will be October 15 – December 7.

The Annual Election Period (AEP) – also referred to as “Fall Open Enrollment” – is for individuals on Medicare who (a) have not yet joined a plan OR (b) are already enrolled in a plan and want to switch, with coverage effective January 1.

Initial Enrollment Period
Individuals who become eligible for Medicare will have an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medi-Pak Rx that is the 7-month period surrounding Medicare eligibility (same as the Initial Enrollment Period for Part B). The Initial Enrollment Period for Part B is the 7-month period that begins three months before the month an individual meets the eligibility requirements for Part B and ends three months after the month of eligibility. For most individuals, the IEP occurs three months before you turn age 65 and ends three months after the month in which you turn age 65. Individuals eligible for Medicare prior to age 65 (such as for disability) will have another IEP upon turning age 65.

Special Election Period
There are a number of circumstances under which individuals are eligible for a Special Election Period (SEP). Examples of those circumstances include the following:
  • I am leaving my employer or union coverage.
  • I recently moved outside of the service area for my current plan.
  • I recently moved and this plan is a new option for me.
  • I recently returned to the United States after living permanently outside of the U.S.
  • I have both Medicare and Medicaid or my state helps pay for my Medicare premiums.
  • I get Extra Help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
  • I no longer qualify for Extra Help paying for my Medicare prescription drugs.
  • I recently, involuntarily, lost my coverage that is creditable prescription drug coverage (coverage as good as Medicare’s).
  • I’m moving into or live in a Long Term Care facility (for example, a nursing home or Long Term Care facility).
  • I recently moved out of a Long Term Care facility (for example, a nursing home or Long Term Care facility).
  • I’m being disenrolled from a Medicare Special Needs Plan because I no longer have special needs status.
  • I recently left a PACE program.
  • I’m disenrolling from a Medicare Advantage plan during Annual Disenrollment Period.
  • My Prescription Drug Plan notified me they will not be renewing my plan.
  • In the past 12 months, I have left a Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time (Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage).
  • In the past 12 months, I joined a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage when I turned 65.
  • I am new to Medicare with a retroactive Medicare effective date.
  • I’m not entitled to premium free Part A and I enrolled in Part B during the General Enrollment Period for Part B (January – March) for an effective date of July 1.



S5795_Rx_REV Website Submission (12/07/09)

Web Page Last Updated: 8/30/2011