CLEVELAND, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual election period for Medicare Part D is rapidly approaching, yet many eligible Americans still lack basic knowledge about the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit and available coverage plans. In fact, according to a four-part study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, numerous eligible Americans are confused over plan features and differences, fearful of the consequences of changing plans and unable to define key terms such as co-payment, premium and coverage gap. To help educate and address these challenges, November has been declared Senior Drug Coverage Awareness Month.

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Anyone 65 years of age or older, or anyone caring for someone in this age group, is encouraged to schedule an appointment with his or her local community pharmacist during the month of November. The pharmacist can answer questions and provide valuable education on the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, and help explore available plan options, ultimately preparing beneficiaries to make informed choices during the 2009 Medicare Part D annual election period.

"Choosing the appropriate plan can depend on a variety of factors, including the overall health of the individual, the prescription drugs they have been prescribed and of course, cost," says Sam Rajan, R.Ph., a registered pharmacist and vice president of Clinical Operations with Universal American, the company that offers the Community CCRx(SM) Medicare Part D plan. "It's important for seniors to know what is available to them, and a community pharmacist is a knowledgeable, unbiased source to provide that information."

Annual election for stand-alone Medicare prescription drug coverage begins November 15, 2008, and ends December 31, 2008. Eligible beneficiaries must select and enroll in a plan by the December 31 deadline to receive coverage in 2009 and avoid paying late enrollment penalties. One important note: those already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan -- who wish to remain within that same plan -- do not need to re-enroll.

For more information on Senior Drug Coverage Awareness Month, please visit www.seniordrugcoverageawarenessmonth.com .

About Community CCRx

Community CCRx is dedicated to renewing the relationships beneficiaries have with their trusted physicians and pharmacists by increasing face-to-face communication. As the nation's fourth-largest Medicare Part D Plan, Community CCRx strives to be an advocate in prescription care by providing exceptional service and a network of more than 63,000 pharmacies nationwide to its 1.3 million members.

Community CCRx is the only Medicare Part D plan that collaborates with the National Community Pharmacists Association. Community CCRx was named number one in overall Medicare Part D Member Satisfaction for 2007 and 2008 by Wilson Health Information, LLC, one of the nation's leading independent consumer insights firms.

About Universal American

Universal American is a specialty health and life insurance holding company that provides a broad array of health insurance and managed-care products and services to the growing senior population. The primary elements of Universal American's success have been broad and deep distribution, active risk management and effective acquisition strategy.

About The National Community Pharmacists Association

The National Community Pharmacists Association, founded in 1898, represents America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 pharmacies. The nation's community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises and regional chains dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medications.

SOURCE Universal American