Medicare beneficiaries who already are enrolled and are satisfied with their Part D plan don't have to do anything, but those who want to sign up for the first time or change their current drug coverage must do so by the end-of-the-year deadline.

The next enrollment period doesn't begin until Nov. 15, and officials warn that premiums and drug prices could rise by then.

Medicare already was covering hospitalization and doctor visits for the elderly and disabled when the prescription drug benefit was started in January to provide its 43 million beneficiaries with savings on their prescription medicines. Participants pay a monthly premium and have an annual deductible, and Medicare pays for part of their prescriptions.

Statewide, an estimated 184,000 seniors or people with disabilities or chronic disease are eligible for Medicare Part D. As of June, 172,000 of these eligible participants -- or 93.5 percent -- had some type of prescription drug coverage, said Medicare spokesman Jack Cheevers of San Francisco.

Those who rely solely on Medicare Part D number about 11,000, he said. Others who get the coverage include 53,000 participants in Medicare Advantage plans that include HMOs, 25,000 who are dual Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries and 33,000 who work for employers that receive Part D subsidies to continue drug coverage.

Officials do not know how many Hawai'i residents have signed up during the current enrollment period that ends Sunday, but nationally, 240,000 have enrolled just online since Nov. 15, Cheevers said.

Anyone with Medicare is eligible for the coverage, regardless of income and resources, health status or current prescription expenses. Low-income participants may be eligible for help with paying some or all of the monthly premium, the deductible and most of the cost of prescriptions.

A federal report said participants in poor health with common chronic conditions will see far greater savings in their prescription drug costs in the next year.

Many of the seniors who did not sign up for 2006 coverage weren't taking a lot of medications and didn't feel they needed additional drug benefits, Cunningham said. This time around, she said, those folks have realized that Medicare Part D coverage is a good thing to have, just in case. And the premiums can be as low as $10.80 per month for someone who isn't taking prescription drugs.

COVERAGE, COST, CONVENIENCE

When considering different prescription drug plans, the Medicare Rx Access Network of Hawai'i suggests that you know your "Three C's":