The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (also known as the MMA), was signed into law on December 8, 2003.  It creates a new prescription drug benefit through Medicare, called Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage or Part D, that begins January 1, 2006.  During the last few months of 2005 and the first few months of 2006, Medicare beneficiaries will need to make important decisions about their prescription drug coverage. 

Information about individual Part D prescription drug plans won’t be available until mid-October 2005, through the www.medicare.gov website and in the “Medicare and You” handbook that will be mailed to all Medicare beneficiaries. 

For 2006, there will be an initial enrollment period for Part D that starts November 15, 2005, and ends May 15, 2006.  If you want your Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) to start on January 1, 2006, however, you must enroll in a Part D plan before the end of 2005. 

You don’t have to enroll in the new Part D drug benefit if you don’t want to.  But, if you don’t enroll when you are first eligible for it and later change your mind, you might have to pay a higher premium.  You can also only enroll in Part D at the end of every year. 

If you are eligible for and/or receiving both Medicare and Medicaid benefits you will automatically be enrolled in a Part D prescription drug program.  The so-called dual eligibles will not be given choices between programs. 

If you are low-income and cannot afford the premium and other costs for the Part D program, you should apply for QMB or SLMB benefits at your local welfare division office.  These benefits could cover the costs of your Part D premium and deductibles. 

The State of Nevada is conducting numerous community meetings around the State in the months of August and September to give the public information about the new Part D program.  You can see a list of scheduled meetings and download more detailed information at this website: http://www.nvaging.net/ship/ship_main.htm.