Prescription drugs can be an expensive part of health care, especially for seniors.

From now until the end of December, seniors on Medicare are encouraged to enroll or make any changes in the Medicare Part D plan, the part that covers prescription drugs.

"I mean, we really encourage people, if they're going to make a change is to do it by December 8th, because there's - that will kind of guarantee that if they go to the pharmacy on January first, there won't be a problem picking up their prescriptions," said Pamela Cunningham, from Sage Plus.

There are seniors who are on Medicare but don't use any prescription drugs - at least not now.

"We kind of talk to people about - if you don't have any drugs think about car insurance. You kind of pick it up, hoping that you don't need it, but if you need it, it's there,” said Cunningham.

Prescription drug coverage plans under Part D are as varied as the population. Some have high premiums and low deductible or vice-versa. Cunningham said she's even aware of a married couple with two different plans because of the kinds of prescription drugs each of them takes.

"Any one that calls us, we really try and assist them because it is really challenging. In 2008, there's going to be 49 plans, just individual drug plans," said Cunningham.

The premiums for any one of those 49 plans will cost money but there is help available.

"A single person, if their income is less than about $1470 a month and they have less than $11,710 in assets, they may qualify for the extra help," said Cunningham.

Finally, Cunningham says anyone, seniors or their caregivers should call Sage plus if they have questions about Medicare Part D.


"In Hawaii, we have two staff and about 65 volunteers statewide. And what we are is a Medicare counseling program. So people come to us with all kinds of questions about Medicare," said Cunningham.