The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 ("Health Care Reform"), signed into law in March 2010, created broad changes which affect employer sponsored health plans. For employers and other calendar year plan sponsors these changes have resulted in several approaching deadlines and tasks that must be completed in the coming weeks and months. This publication highlights some of the upcoming deadlines and recent changes that may impact an employer or plan sponsor's welfare plans. For further information on the recent Health Care Reform please visit our past publications here and here.

Change in Medicare Part D Notification Deadline

Starting this year, employers and other plan sponsors must provide Medicare Part D notices prior to October 15th due to changes made as part of the Health Care Reform. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services require that each year, employers and other plan sponsors that provide prescription drug coverage are required to provide Medicare-eligible participants with notices of creditable or non-creditable coverage regarding their prescription drug coverage. This annual notice must be provided prior to the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D.