New Medicare Plan

From last Saturday, private
insurers started their effort
to sign up some 42 million
older and disabled people for
the government's new
Medicare prescription drug
benefit. The program starts
in January and is designed
to reduce the out-of-pocket
cost of medications. If you
are a Medicare beneficiary,
in coming weeks you will
probably receive numerous
solicitations from insurers.
Applications can be mailed
back to a company or
completed online. For help enrolling, the government has a toll-free
number, 1-800-Medicare.

You can also research plans offered in your area by going to the Medicare
Prescription Drug Plan Finder at http://www.medicare.gov/ beginning Oct.
13. Representatives at Medicare's 800 phone number as well as workers
at a state health insurance assistance program can help you. The phone
number for each state's program is in the Medicare and Your 2006 handbook.

You need to enrol between Nov. 15 and May 15. If you do not enroll when
you first become eligible, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty.
This penalty will be added to your premium each month for the whole time
you are enrolled in Medicare Part D.

If you're making less than $1,197 a month (1,604 for couples), you might
be eligible for a low-income subsidy to help pay for the new Medicare
drug benefit. Caregivers can also apply on behalf of Medicare enrollees.
For Application, go online at www.ssa.gov. 800-772-1213.