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In general, if you or your spouse are working and are covered by the APWU Consumer Driven Option, APWU Health Plan is your primary health plan and Medicare is secondary.
If both you and your spouse are retired, Medicare is your primary coverage and APWU Health Plan is secondary.
When you are enrolled in Medicare and the APWU Consumer Driven Option, your provider will submit a claim to Medicare. After Medicare pays, they will submit the paperwork directly to the APWU Health Plan. As a member, you will not need to do any paperwork.
Part A and the Consumer Driven Option
Hospital services
- In general, members with Medicare Part A as their primary insurance do not have to pre-certify hospital stays.
- A stay must be pre-certified prior to the 90th day of confinement in a benefit period.
Worldwide coverage
Medicare generally doesn’t pay for hospital or medical services outside of the United States. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands are part of the United States. But APWU Health Plan’s Consumer Driven Option coverage travels with you around the world. When you have services outside the U.S., you will probably have to pay the bill at the time of service. Save your receipts and submit a bill directly for reimbursement.
Part B and the Consumer Driven Option
When an APWU Health Plan member is enrolled in Medicare Part B, Medicare pays first and the Plan is billed the remaining cost. With the Consumer Driven Option, the deductibles and coinsurance are not waived.
Medicare-participating doctors and suppliers
Medicare usually pays for covered services directly at 80% after the Medicare Part B annual deductible has been satisfied. If benefit dollars are available in your Personal Care Account (PCA), the Medicare deductible and coinsurance will be paid for covered services.
If your provider accepts Medicare, the provider will reduce the charge to no more than the Medicare allowance. You pay nothing for the covered charges up to our allowance.
Part C and the Consumer Driven Option
Medicare Part C – also called Medicare Advantage Plans – are private health plans that are Medicare-approved. As a member of the APWU Consumer Driven Option Plan, there is no need for you to enroll in Part C.
Part D and the Consumer Driven Option
Part D is Medicare’s prescription drug program. Prescription coverage is an integral part of your total health benefits package with APWU Health Plan. As a member of the APWU Consumer Driven Option Plan, your prescription drug benefit can exceed that of Medicare Part D. Therefore, there is no need for you to take part in Medicare Part D.
If you do enroll in Part D, you will need to use a network pharmacy and present both prescription drug ID cards when filling a prescription at a retail pharmacy.
New for 2025: Medicare prescription drug coverage for postal retirees
As a Medicare-eligible postal retiree enrolled in the APWU Health Plan 2025 Consumer Driven Option, you will automatically be enrolled in the MedicareRx Part D prescription drug plan (PDP) as part of the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
The Medicare PDP is not available to retirees covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program who enroll in the 2025 Consumer Driven Option.