Hawaii Administrative Rules › Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE › Division - HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES › Chapter 5.00 - HEALTH AND OTHER BENEFIT PLANS › Section 5.03 - Mandatory Enrollment in Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D for Retired Employees and Cancellation Due to Failure to Enroll

Current through June, 2024
(a)
				Retired employee-beneficiaries or dependent-beneficiaries of retirees shall
				submit proof of enrollment in the federal Medicare Part B medical insurance
				plan when tire employee-beneficiary or dependent-beneficiary becomes eligible
				to enroll in the federal Medicare Part B medical insurance plan if enrolled in
				a medical and/or prescription drug plan.
Failure to provide proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B
				  within sixty (60) days of eligibility shall result in loss of medical and/or
				  prescription drug coverage retroactive to the date of Medicare Part B medical
				  insurance plan eligibility.
(b) Employee-beneficiaries who retire and are
				eligible for Medicare Part B at the time of retirement and their dependent
				beneficiaries who are eligible for Medicare Part B at the time of the
				employee-beneficiary's retirement shall provide proof of enrollment in Medicare
				Part B at the time of retirement or within sixty (60) days of retirement.
				Failure to provide proof of enrollment in Medicare Part B within sixty (60)
				days of retirement shall result in loss of medical and/or prescription drug
				coverage retroactive to the date of retirement.
(c) Retired employee-beneficiaries hired
				prior to July 1. 2023 and their spouses/partners shall be reimbursed quarterly
				the cost of their Medicare Part B premiums, including Income Related Monthly
				Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) Medicare Part B premiums, less penalties. Retired
				employee-beneficiaries hired on or after July 1, 2023 shall be reimbursed
				quarterly the cost of their Medicare Part B premiums, less IRMAA premiums and
				penalties, for the retired employee-beneficiary only. Reimbursements shall be
				made using direct deposit unless the method of payment is waived by the Fund
				and another method is determined to be more appropriate.
(1) Medicare Part B premium reimbursements
				shall be effective the date the Medicare Part B is effective or the first day
				of the month that the fund receives appropriate proof of enrollment in Medicare
				Part B and a valid direct deposit agreement, whichever is later. In addition,
				proof of payment to the Social Security Administration or Centers for Medicare
				& Medicaid Services is required to begin Medicare Part B
				reimbursements.
(2) If a retired
				employee-beneficiary's direct deposit is returned by the financial institution
				or check is returned as undeliverable, a notice from the Fund will be sent to
				the retired employee-beneficiary. The retired employee-beneficiary has sixty
				(60) days from the date of the notice to submit a valid direct deposit
				agreement or a retiree address change form (returned check) to avoid a break in
				their reimbursement. Failure to provide a valid direct deposit agreement or a
				retiree address change form (returned check) within sixty (60) days of the date
				of the notice will result in cancellation of Medicare Part B premium
				reimbursements retroactive to the first day of the month of the quarter that
				the direct deposit was returned or when the check was returned undeliverable.
				If the reimbursement is cancelled, the retired employee-beneficiary's Medicare
				Part B premium reimbursements can be reinstated when a valid direct deposit
				agreement or a retiree address change form (returned check) is received with an
				effective date of the first day of the month that the valid direct deposit
				agreement or the retiree address change form (returned check) is
				received.
(3) Retired
				employee-beneficiaries and/or their spouses/partners shall provide the Fund
				appropriate proof of an IRMAA added to their Medicare Part B premium. If proof
				is submitted to the fund more than two years after the effective date of the
				IRMAA premium, the fund shall only reimburse for a two year retroactive period,
				subject to 5.03(c)(1).
(4) Each
				public employer shall pay to the Fund a contribution equal to the amount paid
				by the Fund to the retired employee-beneficiaries and their spouses/ partners.
Payment of these reimbursements shall be made only for
				  retired employee-beneficiaries and/or their spouses/partners who are enrolled
				  in the Medicare Part B medical insurance plan and pay their Medicare Part B
				  medical insurance premiums to the Social Security Administration or Centers for
				  Medicare & Medicaid Services.