Important Considerations Regarding Medicare & RRD Coverage

Last Updated December 10, 2021

Individual Medicare vs. RRD Coverage

If you are eligible for Medicare, you likely receive many offers from insurance companies encouraging you to enroll in their individual Medicare Part C and/or Part D plans. While you may wish to review their plan information, here are some important things to keep in mind:

  • RRD retiree medical and prescription drug coverage are tied together. If you opt out of either the UHC Medicare Advantage plan or the SilverScript Prescription Drug Program, you lose your RRD retiree medical and prescription drug coverage. When you first enroll, you will receive a letter asking if you wish to opt out or cancel your coverage through SilverScript; this is a required notice and includes Medicare-required wording. You should disregard this letter if you want to keep retiree medical and prescription drug coverage through RRD.
  • No dual coverage. Medicare will not allow you to be enrolled in the RR Donnelley Retiree Group Health Program and Retiree Prescription Drug Program and participate in an individual Medicare Part C and/or Part D plan. If you enroll in an individual Medicare Part C and/or Part D plan, your RRD coverage will end.
  • Medicare Part C and D are voluntary. If you choose to enroll in individual coverage, you can enroll during the Medicare Part C and D annual enrollment.

Special Cost Considerations

  • Avoid a late enrollment penalty by enrolling when you are first eligible in Medicare Part B and in a Medicare prescription drug plan (such as RRD prescription drug coverage through SilverScript) or other creditable prescription drug coverage. You may have to pay a penalty of 10% of the base premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t have coverage. Contact Medicare for more information.
  • If you qualify for the Extra Help Program to assist in paying your medical and prescription drug coverage, you will receive a Low Income Subsidy (LIS) rider along with your Confirmation of Enrollment letter (or your Annual Notice of Change, if you are already enrolled). If you are eligible for this subsidy, the RRD Benefits Center will be notified and will adjust your premiums accordingly.
  • If your income is above a certain level, you are responsible for paying Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) to Social Security. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 if you have questions.