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For those ConnPACE beneficiaries that have Extra Help (through a Medicare Savings Program or Social Security) their benefits will only change if they utilize ConnPACE to cover excluded medications costing more than $16.25. CONNPACE BENEFICIARIES NOT ALREADY ON MSP DSS reports there are approximately 5,500 ConnPACE members who are not already on a Medicare Savings Program (MSP). DSS will be sending a "June 2011 FINAL CONNPACE phase out ltr to non-MSP plus attachment" along with a color-coded (goldenrod paper) MSP application to those individuals first and the mailing will include an return envelope with the address of DSS Central Office, Medical Care Administration as well. This will be the unit that logs all these applications into the DSS system before they are sent to the appropriate regional DSS office for processing on a daily basis. The Commissioner has made the processing of these applications a priority during the phasing out of ConnPACE benefits. The way income is calculated for MSP has also changed to ensure that all ConnPACE members will be eligible for one of the MSP programs (ALMB, SLMB, or QMB). With this shift, there will be some current MSP members moving to the next level of MSP. For example, some ALMB members will now be under SLMB and some current SLMB members will be under QMB. CONNPACE BENEFICIARIES ALREADY ON MSP The remaining 20,000+ ConnPACE beneficiaries will receive a second letter which is the same letter as the first but without the MSP application. These letters will start going out after the first letters are sent to those without MSP already. In Summary Effective July 1, 2011 ConnPACE will be a benefit only available to those not eligible for Medicare. The Open Enrollment period for ConnPACE will remain November 15 - December 31 each year with coverage starting January 1st. A 31 day Special Enrollment period will start the day a person becomes eligible for Social Security Disability (SSD) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as well as when a person turns 65 - But the person must NOT be eligible for Medicare in order to get ConnPACE during that time. Medicaid will continue to cover Exempt Medications as they currently do. Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates will begin to be covered by Medicare as of January 1, 2013. Individuals who currently take Exempt medications and do not qualify for Medicaid will need to either ***EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST***
CONNPACE WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME