Rebecca Droke, Post-Gazette Retired history professor David Southern, of North Strabane, is not pleased that the monthly premium for the SecurityBlue Deluxe plan he is enrolled in through Highmark is going up nearly 30 percent, and he is considering other options. Click photo for larger image. More information To help Medicare beneficiaries consider their options, the Post-Gazette has outlined the basic features of plans as Adobe Acrobat files. Prescription drug plans in Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage plans in Allegheny County You need to have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view these files. Related coverage With Dems in power, Part D could get a makeover Medicare Part D: What does this all mean? -- a glossary Medicare drug program resources

Get ready for Part D, round two -- but be ready to act fast.

Beginning Wednesday, many Medicare recipients will again have the opportunity to enroll in the government's prescription drug program.

But unlike the last enrollment period, when Medicare beneficiaries had until May 15 to join a private plan offering Part D benefits, recipients will have only until Dec. 31 to sign up for Part D coverage.

There are some exceptions to the year-end deadline, but most recipients can't drop or add Part D coverage after that date. Some beneficiaries have greater flexibility to change their coverage, including Medicare recipients who also receive Medicaid.

Medicare beneficiaries who want to ensure that they have Part D coverage by Jan. 1 should enroll in a plan by early December, said Jack Vogelsong, coordinator for the state's Apprise program, which provides free health insurance information to Medicare recipients.

But making a decision can be challenging, in part because of the wealth of choices available. In the Pittsburgh area alone, more than 80 plans are offering Part D coverage to Medicare recipients, about 20 more than last year.

To help Medicare beneficiaries consider their options, the Post-Gazette has outlined the basic features of plans available locally in two charts (see the links below the photo).

The charts contain information on standalone plans that offer only prescription coverage and Medicare Advantage plans that often provide both medical and drug coverage. The charts are among many resources Medicare beneficiaries might consult before making a choice.

Monthly premiums for standalone plans available in Pennsylvania range from a low of about $15 a month to a high of $104.50 for a plan offered by SierraRx that provides generic and brand drugs without a gap in coverage -- known as the doughnut hole -- that is typical of many plans.

Some Medicare Advantage plans are available in Allegheny County for a zero monthly premium, but they generally require co-pays or deductibles for medical or other services and some do not offer Part D coverage.

Not all Medicare recipients need to consider signing up for Part D. Those who already have good drug coverage through a former employer, for example, may not need the coverage.

Others, including Medicaid recipients and many members of the state's drug assistance programs, PACE and PACENET, automatically are enrolled if they do not select a Part D plan on their own.

But new Medicare recipients who lack good drug coverage may want to consider joining a plan. That's because if they are eligible to sign up now but put it off until next year, they will face a penalty under current guidelines.

The penalty for people who sign up this year and were eligible in the last enrollment period is less than $2 extra in monthly premiums, Mr. Vogelsong noted, but it will be higher next year.

Experts also encouraged Medicare beneficiaries already in Part D plans to evaluate their options. Though they generally can continue in their current plans, another plan might offer a better deal.

Bob Kubit, coordinator for Allegheny County's Apprise program, said people already enrolled in Part D might be reluctant to consider another plan.

Some found the process of selecting a plan confusing, he said, and "they don't want to go through that process again."

"The concern is that people will stay put without looking at what else might be out there," said Juliette Cubanski, a principal policy analyst for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

David Southern, 68, of North Strabane, is among those who are thinking about changing plans.

The retired history professor is a member of a Highmark Medicare Advantage plan, SecurityBlue Deluxe. While he is pleased with the coverage, he said he was surprised that monthly premiums were scheduled to rise from $96 to $124.

"I'm shocked by the price increase and I'm not sure it's warranted," said Mr. Southern, noting that Highmark, the region's largest health insurer, has had sizable profits. Highmark's surplus grew by about 12 percent to $2.8 billion last year.

"The general frustration is [that] I went through this last year and I'm doing it again," Mr. Southern said of choosing a plan. "I planned to stay with what I have."

He said he has found other plans with lower premiums that appear to offer similar coverage and will likely switch if they cover membership at a gym near his home.

Robert O'Connor, Highmark's director of sales and marketing for senior products, defended the premium increases, citing a reduction in government payments to insurers for providing coverage in a number of southwestern Pennsylvania counties.

Highmark also added coverage of non-preferred brand drugs in next year's SecurityBlue Deluxe plan.

Mr. O'Connor urged consumers to compare plans carefully, saying that despite the premium increase, enrollees "are still getting a very good value."

Companies emphasized the new options available to Medicare recipients in next year's plans.

For example, Highmark and HealthAmerica are both offering new zero-premium Medicare Advantage plans in Allegheny County. UPMC Health Plan is offering two standalone plans with lower monthly premiums.

Members of Medicare Advantage plans need to be particularly careful in considering a switch, said Apprise's Mr. Vogelsong. He noted that changing plans might limit members' access to the doctors and hospitals they use.

Still, he encouraged recipients with sizable prescription drug costs to compare plans, either on their own or with help from a family member or friend or a group such as Apprise. "At least you know what you could save."