Medica's education initiative is a community service that informs seniors and/or their caregivers about the many details of Medicare Part D before health plans begin marketing their Part D programs starting October 1, 2005. After that date, it is expected that seniors will be flooded with materials about specific plans offered by health insurers. The Medica initiative is designed to arm seniors with information that will help them make wise choices about which Medicare Part D plans would be appropriate for them.

"Medicare Part D will be a valuable benefit to many, many seniors," said Mark Owen, vice president and general manager of the Medica Center for Healthy Aging and Medica's Individual Business. "However, there is an array of sometimes confusing information out there, and Medica wants to ensure that qualified individuals are aware of their options and how to enroll if they choose to do so."

Medicare Part D is a voluntary prescription drug coverage program for the more than 40 million Americans eligible for Medicare. It is part of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act passed in 2003. It is designed primarily to help seniors save money on the cost of their prescription drugs and to safeguard against unforeseen catastrophic drug costs they might otherwise incur.

Although it is a federal program, those wishing to enroll in Medicare Part D must do so through private health insurers such as Medica, who will administer the benefit. The program will go into effect on January 1, 2006, with an initial enrollment period running between November 15, 2005, and May 15, 2006. Those currently eligible for the program must enroll during this period to avoid paying a monthly penalty. Following the initial enrollment period, eligible individuals may enroll in Medicare Part D during an annual enrollment period from November 15 to December 31.

Medica began offering informational meetings in August and will continue holding them through mid-December in communities throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin for Medica members interested in learning more about Medicare Part D program options. The health care provider has also published a booklet, "The Simple Facts," to explain the program in greater detail. The booklet is available by calling Medica's Center for Healthy Aging at 1-800-906-5432.

About Medica

Medica is Minnesota's largest HMO, largest PPO, and leading non-profit and independent provider of health plans. Medica has 1.2 million members and 24,000 providers in a regional health care network service area that includes 98 percent of Minnesotans and a growing number of adjoining counties in Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.

Medica has the highest accreditation status, Excellent, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA(R)) for its Minnesota and North Dakota Medicaid HMO plans and commercial health plans.

About the Medica Center for Healthy Aging

The Medica Center for Healthy Aging is a comprehensive resource dedicated to serving the health care needs of Minnesota's senior population. The Center's staff provides resources for Medica members looking to find the best short- or long-term health care coverage to fit their needs.

Editor's note: To schedule an interview with Medicare expert Mark Owen, please call Jennifer Hellman at 651/292-8062.

Medica Part D Information Meetings    Bloomington Creekside Community Center (9801 Penn Ave. S) Oct. 17 and Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. Sheraton Bloomington Hotel (7800 Normandale Blvd.) Oct. 13 and Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.; Dec. 13 at 9 a.m.  Brooklyn Center Brooklyn Center Community Center (6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy.) Oct. 4 and Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.  Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center (5600 85th Ave. N) Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.  Burnsville MN Valley YMCA (13850 Portland Ave. S) Nov. 22 at 4:30 p.m..  Champlin Champlin Ice Forum (12165 Ensign Blvd., behind Lifetime Fitness) Oct. 27 and Dec. 29 at 4:30 p.m.  Chaska Chaska Community Center (1661 Park Ridge Dr.) Oct. 13 at 10 a.m.; Nov. 2 at 2 p.m.  Cottage Grove Washington Library, Park Grove (7900 Hemingway Ave. S) Oct. 11 and Nov. 1 at 4:30 p.m.  Crystal Crystal Community Center (4800 Douglas Dr. N) Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m.  Duluth Lincoln Park Senior Center (2014 W 3rd St.) Oct. 20 and Dec. 12 at 2 p.m.  Eagan Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dakota Room (2700 Pilot Knob Rd.) Oct. 10, Nov. 14 and Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m.   Forest Lake Forest Lake Senior Center (767 SW 4th St.) Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.  Fridley Unity Hospital Auditorium (550 Osborne Rd. NE) Oct. 4, Nov. 8 and Dec. 6 at 1 p.m.; Oct. 20, Nov. 29, and Dec. 21 at  10 a.m.  Hastings Dakota County Library - Pleasant Hill (1490 South Frontage Rd.) Oct. 19 at 4 p.m.  Maple Grove Maple Grove Community Center (12351 Weaver Lake Rd.) Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m.   Maplewood Maplewood Community Center (2100 White Bear Ave.) Oct. 6 at 4:30 p.m.; Nov. 10 and Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.  Minneapolis The Senior Place (1801 Central Ave. NE) Oct. 6 and Nov. 3 at 5:30 p.m.  Minnetonka MEDICA Corporate (401 Carlson Pkwy.) Oct. 11 and 18 at 8 a.m.; Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m.; Dec. 1 at 2 p.m.;  and Dec. 12 at 10 a.m.  Moorhead Heritage Hjemkomst International Center (202 1st Ave. N) Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.; Nov. 10 and Dec. 7 at 4 p.m.  Mound Gillespie Center (2590 Commerce Blvd.) Oct. 19 and Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.; Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.  North Branch Chisago County Senior Center (38790 6th St.) Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m.  Plymouth Best Western Kelly Inn (2705 Annapolis Ln. N) Oct. 12, Nov. 16 and Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. Plymouth Creek Center (14800 34th Ave. N) Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. Vision of Glory Lutheran Church (13200 Highway 55) Oct. 11 at 12:30 p.m.  Richfield Richfield Community Center (7000 Nicollet Ave.) Oct. 11 and Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.; Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.  Roseville Country Inn & Suites (2905 Snelling Ave. N.) Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. Fairview Community Center (1910 County Rd. B, W) Dec. 27 at 4:30 p.m.  Shoreview Shoreview Community Center (4580 No. Victoria St.) Nov. 8 and Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.   St. Cloud Holiday Inn (75 S. 37th Ave.) Oct. 18, Nov. 30 and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.   St. Paul Best Western - Kelly Inn (I94 & Marion St.) Oct. 26, Nov. 30 and Dec. 15 at 9 a.m.  Hillcrest Community Center (1978 Ford Pkwy.) Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. Keystone Community Center (2000 Saint Anthony Ave.) Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.  Stillwater The Lowell Inn (102 North 2nd St.) Oct. 13 and Nov. 15 at 1 p.m.  West St. Paul South Family YMCA (150 Thompson Ave. E) Oct. 26, Nov. 17, and Dec. 20 at 4:30 p.m.  Woodbury SE Area YMCA (2175 Radio Dr.) Oct. 27 at 1 p.m.