• It’s important to coordinate your benefits after transitioning from prior coverage. Coordination of Benefits (COB) Ensures claims are paid correctly by identifying the health benefits available to a Medicare beneficiary, coordinating the payment process and ensuring that the primary payer, whether Medicare or other insurance, pays first.
• You will need to contact the Medicare Coordination of Benefits Department to verify that Medicare is listed as your primary insurance. You can do so by calling 1-800-999-1118 and following the prompts. Taking this step helps ensure there are no disruptions with claims approval.
• Look for the Declaration of Prior Prescription Drug Coverage form that your insurance company will mail to you. This form requires you to provide proof that you had creditable drug coverage from age 65 until your new Medicare plan enrollment. In order to prevent penalties, you must complete and return the form.