Medicare offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. Even if you don't take a lot of prescriptions now, you should still consider joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you are first eligible, and you don't have other creditable prescription drug coverage, you will likely pay a late enrollment penalty. For a list of the stand-alone PDP plans in your county, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.

NEW: In the fall of 2011, the beginning of the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will change to October 15, 2011 and end on December 7, 2011. If you make a change during this period, your new coverage will begin on January 1, 2012.