Sign up period for Medicare Part D started Saturday. This is the time for you to decide and to make some changes for next year.

Medicare enrolments have six weeks until December 31 to sign up for another year of Medicare Part D. The prescription drug benefit – Part D –, goes along with Medicare Part A (hospitalization), Part B (outpatient and doctor costs) and Medigap (the supplement that covers other costs including co-payments and deductibles). This is the 4th year when the elderly are allowed to decide on a prescription drug plan starting January 1, 2006, when Medicare Part D went into effect.

Medicare experts urge senior citizens to review their drug plan to see if all their medication is covered and if the price is in proportion with the benefits. Make sure that your drugs are still covered in 2009. Also, people should mention what pharmacies they buy from most often in order to see if those certain stores are available in the plan they will choose. Medicare officials say that even those who are satisfied with their current plans should review and compare plans every year. Depending on the particular medicines that a person takes, the plan that the person has this year may not be the most affordable plan for the person next year.

Medicare Part D is a federal program to subsidize the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Medicare is working with insurance companies to offer this drug benefit.

Beneficiaries can obtain the Medicare drug benefit through two types of private plans: beneficiaries can join a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) for drug coverage only or they can join Medicare Advantage Plan (MA) that covers both medical services and prescription drugs. In 2009, the initial benefit that a person enrolled in Medicare Part D can receive before reaching the coverage gap will be $2,700. To receive that amount, the person must spend $675 of his or her money using the plan, according to MedAssist. Medicare will pay the other $2,025. The coverage gap begins once you and your plan have spent $2,510 on prescription drugs.

Medicare participants can begin enrolling in drug coverage for next year from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. Kerry Weems, acting director of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said beneficiaries should search the market for a plan that fits them in order to avoid “significant premium increases or changes.” Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the new year. You should enroll this year if you are eligible, or you may have to pay more if you decide to join later. It is important to pick a plan that meets your needs. Take the time to find a plan that works for you.

Medicare’s Web site contains information about Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Drug Plan.