2008 Medicare Drug Plans : Deadline 31st Dec

If you are a Medicare beneficiary, you have exactly 4 more weeks -- until Dec. 31 -- to select a new "Part D" prescription drug plan for 2008. Many of you may find rising costs and coverage changes for specific drugs that you use.

About 24 million people are already enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program for those 65 and older and the disabled. The prescription-drug plans are administered by private companies, with United Healthcare and Humana two of the largest providers. There are about 1,800 individual drug plans for next year, 17 of which are national in scope.

It is wise not to blindly default to your current plans without checking alternative offerings. Also, even though low premium is a desirable factor, do not make that your priority -- It may turn out to be the costliest plan if you do not carefully consider your requirements. So, please compare plans based on your pharmaceutical needs and total costs.

First, prepare a list of the drugs you currently take and their dosages and then find out (i) if the plan covers your drugs and offers you a cheaper alternative than what you currently pay, (ii) if the pharmacies you regularly use are in the plan's network, (iii) if the plan puts any kind of restrictions on the purchase of your drug.

Starting this year, Medicare is offering an online feature drawn from multiple data sources for the quality of services offered, that compares local drug plans for pricing, ease of prescription fulfillment and customer service. It appears on the plan finder tool on its Web site, http://www.medicare.gov/ . You can put your ZIP codes and scrutinize a plan's performance before deciding to go for it.

Medicare also offers help via the toll-free phone 1-800-Medicare. The Medicare Rights Center also staffs a toll-free number with counselors ready to help at 1-800-333-4114.