LINET is a Medicare program that provides immediate prescription coverage for Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for Medicaid or Extra Help and have no prescription drug coverage.
Enrollment in LINET is temporary, usually for 1 to 2 months. As a beneficiary, this temporary coverage provides you with adequate time to choose a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that best fits your needs. If by chance, you do not select a plan within this timeframe, Medicare will automatically enroll you into a benchmark plan.
Coverage for out-of-pocket expenses during eligible periods (retroactive coverage) is also available by submitting a direct member reimbursement form.
Eligibility requirements for the LINET program include:
- Medicare and Part D eligibility
- Eligible for Extra Help, including any of the following:
- Full-benefit dual-eligible beneficiaries: those with Medicare and full Medicaid benefits
- SSI-only beneficiaries: those with Medicare who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but do not have Medicaid
- Partial-benefit dual-eligible beneficiaries: those with Medicare who qualify for Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) but not full Medicaid, i.e., QMB Only, SLMB Only and QI
- Extra Help applicants: those who have applied for, and have been awarded, Extra Help through SSA or their state
- Have no other prescription coverage, including:
- Part D plan coverage
- Retiree drug subsidy (RDS) plan
- VA coverage
- Not enrolled in a Part C plan, which does not allow concomitant enrollment in a Part D plan
- Not opted out of auto-enrollment
- Have a permanent address in the fifty States or DC
