A consumer may have to pay a Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) if they went without creditable prescription drug coverage for how many days?

The Late Enrollment Penalty (LEP) is applied to individuals who do not enroll in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage when they are first eligible and subsequently go without creditable prescription drug coverage for a significant period. The specific duration that triggers this penalty is 63 continuous days or more without such coverage.

Creditable coverage refers to prescription drug coverage that is expected to be at least as good as Medicare's standard prescription drug coverage. If an individual delays their enrollment in Medicare Part D and has not had other prescription drug insurance for more than 63 days, they may need to pay a penalty if they decide to enroll later.

This penalty is established to encourage timely enrollment and ensure that those who might need medication have appropriate coverage without a gap. Since the LEP is specifically tied to the 63-day period, this makes it important for consumers to understand their coverage options and the potential consequences of delaying enrollment.