MEDICARE PART D

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Anyone on Medicare in Minnesota may join one of 151 plans offering drug coverage.

If you don't enroll three months before or after you turn 65, you must wait for the next open-enrollment period -- Nov. 15 through Dec. 31-- but you'll pay a permanent monthly penalty.

WHAT DO I GET?

Plan costs and coverage vary widely.

Under the 52 drug-only plans, the recipient typically pays about 25 percent of the first $2,510 in annual costs, all costs between $2,510 and $5,726 -- a gap called the "doughnut hole"-- then 5 percent of annual costs exceeding $5,726.

Under the 79 Medicare Advantage plans that combine health and drug insurance, drug coverage is similar.

There also are 20 "special needs" plans for people who have disabilities or who are on Medicare and Medicaid.

Some plans cover generic drugs or limited brand-name drugs in the doughnut hole.

WHAT IF I DO NOTHING?

If you have a 2007 plan, it will automatically re-enroll you.

If you could have joined earlier but did not, you will be penalized 27.93 cents times the number of months you were eligible but did not enroll -- permanently added to your monthly premiums. For someone eligible last January, that's an extra $3.35 per month.

LOW-INCOME HELP

A low-income subsidy cuts costs for people who have incomes of less than $15,315 ($20,535 for a couple) and savings of less than $11,710 ($23,410 for a couple). The poorest pay no premiums or deductibles, and pay $1.05 for generics and $3.10 for brand-name drugs. About 123,000 Minnesotans get the subsidy.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PLAN

The only way to compare costs is to use Medicare's online plan-comparison tool.

Go to www.Medicare.gov, or call a counselor at Medicare, the Minnesota LinkAge Line, the Minnesota Disability Linkage Line or the Minnesota Senior Federation.

GETTING HELP

Minnesota LinkAge Line: 1-800-333-2433, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Counselors also can help you apply for the low-income subsidy, direct you to a nearby center for personal counseling or come to your home if you have mobility problems.

Medicare: 1-800-633-4227 (TTY/TDD 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day, or go to www.medicare.gov.

Disability Linkage Line: 1-866-333-2466, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.

Minnesota Senior Federation: 651-783-5045 or 1-866-783-5045, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. weekdays.