Senior citizens who have prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D are being encouraged to check the plans they are currently enrolled in for possible changes in 2007. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is urging seniors to look into what plan is going to best serve their needs in 2007.

Such changes seniors should be aware of is whether premiums, deductibles and co-pays will change but perhaps most importantly, whether plans will change the drugs they cover.

According to McCarthy, many prescription drug plans are changing benefits and approved drug lists, as well as preferred pharmacies. All Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan should check with their provider to ensure they have the best coverage at the best price.

"I share the concern of many pharmacists and health care advocates that low-income Medicare beneficiaries will again have trouble getting prescription drugs next month as they did this past January," said McCarthy.

Deane Beebe of Medicare Rights Center, an organization devoted to helping seniors understand Medicare, joined with the congresswoman in alerting seniors that there are many changes in Medicare Part D in the coming year. According to Beebe, all seniors who are enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan should check to see if restrictions and prices have changed on the prescription drugs since a prescription that was covered this year under a given plan may not be covered under the same plan in 2007. Those who have a private Medicare drug plan have to look into whether the same plan is going to work for them in 2007 or whether they need to choose a different plan. There are 61 stand-alone private drug plans in 2007, (up from 46 in 2006, and 29 private health plans, up from 25 in 2006) offering drug coverage on a county-by-county basis.

A report issued by the Medicare Rights Center points out that in addition to changes such as monthly premiums, deductibles, copays and the drugs covered, another significant change pertains to the coverage gap or "doughnut hole."

Once seniors have entered the doughnut hole after they have spent a specified amount of money in total drug costs, they will have to pay for the full costs of their drugs until they have spent $3,850 out-of-pocket, at which point seniors will receive "catastrophic coverage." Under this coverage, seniors will pay only 5 percent of cost of their prescriptions or $2.15 for generics and $5.35 for brand-name drugs.

Another major change is that in 2006, there were five plans that covered generic drugs in the coverage gap and one plan that covered both generics and brand-name drugs. In 2007, there are 17 plans that will be offering generic coverage during the doughnut hole. However, the one plan that offered brand-name coverage during this time will no longer be doing so.

Also, seniors who had both Medicare and Medicaid should be aware that the dual coverage in 2007 will only apply to four classes of drugs - antipsychotics, antidepressants, antiretrovirals and immunosuppressants.

Seniors can search through the Medicare plans on the Internet at www.medicare.gov. Beebe said that the Medicare Rights Center is offering counseling to assist seniors by calling (800) 333-4114 ext. 1.

McCarthy and Beebe point out that there is the federal program, Extra Help, which will help pay most of the Medicare costs. Extra Help will pay the full cost of their monthly premium as long as seniors are enrolled in a basic drug plan whose monthly premium is at or below $26.45 in 2007 in New York.

"Many Long Island seniors will face increases of close to $50 per prescription if they do not re-apply for extra help. These seniors who are on an extremely tight budget will not be able to afford their prescriptions without the assistance of extra-help," McCarthy said.

Medicare Rights Center is also providing counselors to assist seniors in applying for Extra Help. The number for that helpline is 888-RX-LINCS (888-795-4627).

Seniors should be certain on deciding on a plan that best fits their needs since they will be locked into that plan for the year. Seniors are encouraged to use the Medicare Rights Center helplines or call Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy's office (Washington (202) 225-5516 or Garden City (516) 739-3008) for assistance.

Prescription drug coverage for seniors has been a frustrating problem. Congresswoman McCarthy said the problem is that seniors who have built the country are now scrambling to see what's going to cover them. She is hopeful that with new leadership in Congress a simpler formula can be brought back.

Senior Herb Williams of Hempstead is still working so he doesn't have to rely on Medicare Part D but echoed the sentiment of many seniors when he said that it is a sad commentary when seniors have to choose between buying food and medicine.