The most important improvement to Medicare since its inception in 1965 is coming Jan. 1, 2006. It is the new federal Medicare prescription drug program, Medicare Part D.

This revolutionary expansion to Medicare may help many of Rockland's senior citizens and other Medicare-eligible beneficiaries save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket expenses for essential medicines.

The enrollment period for the prescription-drug program will begin on Nov. 15, 2005.

As health insurance counselors at the Rockland Office for the Aging, we will be communicating the benefits of the new program to the county's senior citizens. In addition, the Social Security Administration and the state's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) will be mailing informational materials to many Rockland homes over the next few months.

Here are a few key facts:

• If you currently have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and/or Medicare Part B (medical insurance), you can join a Medicare prescription drug plan between Nov. 15 and May 15, 2006.

• If you join by Dec. 31, your Medicare prescription drug coverage will begin on Jan. 1.

• If you join after Dec. 31, your coverage will be effective the first day of the month following the month you join. In general, you can join or change plans once each year between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31.

• If senior citizens and other Medicare-eligible beneficiaries do not enroll by May 15, 2006, they will likely have to pay higher premiums than people who sign up prior to that time.

Seniors who do not have prescription-drug coverage as good as or better than Medicare's through a union or previous employer may be well advised to enroll before May 15 in order to avoid paying a higher rate. Beneficiaries and caregivers with questions about the new prescription insurance and how to enroll should call the Rockland Office for the Aging at (845) 364-2118 for assistance.

Seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries enrolling in the prescription program will pay a monthly premium (generally about $32 a month in 2006) and will pay a share of the cost of their prescriptions. Costs will vary depending on the drug plan a consumer chooses, so it is advisable for seniors and their caregivers to keep track of what medicines they use to help them compare how various insurance plans cover different medicines.

This shows how important it will be for seniors to carefully compare their options, something the Office for the Aging can help them do.

Some Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources may qualify for assistance paying for their prescriptions and insurance. People who are eligible for such assistance may be contacted by the Social Security Administration this summer and can sign up with the SSA or the Rockland Office for the Aging.

In the fall of 2005, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to get personalized information at http://www.medicare.gov/ on the Web, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to help them make the best choice.

In addition, the Office for the Aging will stage public forums for county residents on Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Palisades Center. These free sessions will be held at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the community rooms on the mall's fourth level and are open to all Medicare recipients such as senior citizens and their caregivers.

Counselors at the Office of the Aging can also help local seniors and their caregivers decide which option is best for them. To make reservations to attend one of these sessions, call the Office for the Aging at (845) 364-2118.

Don't miss this important opportunity to enroll for prescription-drug insurance.