Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Employers offering prescription drug coverage must provide the annual Medicare Part D notice to eligible individuals before October 15.
Who must comply
Employers that offer prescription drug coverage to any Medicare-eligible individual (employees, spouses, dependents, retirees). You must tell them whether the coverage is 'creditable' — at least as good as Medicare Part D.
If you miss it
There's no direct fine, but failing to notify can leave individuals facing a permanent Medicare Part D late-enrollment penalty — a real liability and employee-relations risk.
Background
The notice requirement comes from the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which created Part D. The October 15 deadline lines up with the start of Medicare's annual open-enrollment period.
Compliance checklist
- 1Determine whether your prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable.
- 2Send the appropriate CMS model notice to all Medicare-eligible plan members before October 15.
- 3Also provide the notice at enrollment and on request, and when creditable status changes.
- 4Separately complete the online CMS disclosure within 60 days of plan year start.
Add to your calendar
Reviewed Saturday, June 13, 2026. Dates can change and exceptions apply — confirm with the official source. Not legal advice.