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| IEP or "Initial Enrollment Period" |
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The period we just went through in 2005-2006 and covered November 15, 2005 until May 15, 2006. The IEP provided the initial opportunity for existing Medicare recipients to enroll into the Medicare Part D plans. Please note, for those persons who had already qualified for Medicare, the IEP also acted as the first AEP or Annual Election Period (see below). If you enrolled in the IEP, you should have received coverage beginning the first of 2006 (if you enrolled in 2005) or the first day of the month after your enrollment in 2006. For those persons who are just turning 65 or just becoming eligible for Medicare, the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven (7) month period that extends three (3) months before the month when a person reaches 65, plus the month where the person turns 65, plus the three (3) month period after the person turns 65. (Please note this is the same 7 month period during which a beneficiary can also enroll in the Medicare Part B program). If you enrolled in the months before turning 65, your Part D policy begins the first day of your birthday month. If you enrolled during or after your birthday month, your Part D plan begins the first day of the next month. Eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries who did not enroll during their IEP now face a life-time monthly premium penalty. Related to this word are AEP, OEP, and SEP.
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| in-network |
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Providers or health care facilities which are part of a health plan's network of providers with which it has negoiated a discount. Insured individuals usually pay less when using an in-network provider, because those networks provide services at lower cost to the insurance companies with which they have contracts.
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| individual health insurance |
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Health insurance coverage on an individual, not group, basis.
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| identification card |
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Card issued by your insurance company to indicate your policy number and coverage.
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| initial coverage limit |
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Amount you pay for Medicare prescription drug coverage, with a PDP or an MA-PD, after you have paid the annual deductible (if applicable) and until the total covered prescription drug costs paid by you and the plan add up to $2510. |
