The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • D8

many health insurers, including several offering coverage in North Carolina, have plans that do not have a gap. Instead, the plans require patients to pay a set co-payment that remains constant throughout the year, no matter what their drug costs are. may be a little more expensive, but if you want a plan that fills in the doughnuthole, you can get said. Getting answers McClellan told people interested in the drug program, including family members or caregivers helping a Medicare member, that there are plenty of places to get help. toll-free telephone line, (800) 633-4227, offers answers, and members or their helpers can compare prescription drug plans by coverage and cost at www.medicare.gov In North Carolina, seniors may contact the state Health Insurance Information Program or SHIIP, which had several counselorsat event to answer ques- tions and enroll seniors in Medicare Part D.

Molly Bethea, 63, came to appearance prepared. She eligible for Medicare Part for two years, but her husband Jay, 65, is eligible now. Bethea brought a list of her medicines, including dosages, and what the couple is paying for them now. ASHIIP counselor punched the information into the Part plan finder tool on Web page and pulled up a list of plans that best met Jay needs. was very said Bethea, who took home a list of the three best choices.

going to take it home and let him look at Staff writer Jean P. Fisher can be reached at 829-4753 or talk, which she did not attend. Burch, who owns Central Pharmacy on North Duke Street with her father, pharmacist Bill Burch, agrees that pharmacies are bearing the brunt of frustrations with the new benefit. an oncology patient come in with a prescription for a liquid medication and his plan did not cover said. said, I have the Medicare drug People do not understand the limitations of this The patient said he could not afford to pay $65 for the medicine, so he asked for half the amount his doctor had prescribed to save money, Burch said.

McClellan, one of a handful of federal officials who have been touring the country since early fall to promote Medicare Part acknowledged that there have been bumps in the first days of the benefit. But, he said, that is to be expected with anew insurance program. time people sign up for new benefits confusing and there are going to be McClellan said in an interview after his talk to an audience of about 50 people at Northwood Temple Academy. helping people work through them and going to keep helping McClellan said the pharmacists have been in walking patients through the new benefit. He said he is pleased with the response to Medicare Part D.He said about 1 million prescriptions were processed through the new drug programFriday.

Unsure of costs Pat Nowiski, 70, of Fayetteville, said she signed up for Medicare Part to help pay for her cho- lesteroland heart medicines and drugs to manage her diabetes. But she sure save much after she adds up the cost of the premium, co-payments, and the coverage gap in the new benefit. Under a standard Medicare Part plan, patients would be required to pay 100 percent of the cost of their medicines after their drug expenses exceed $2,250. know if it will be cheaper for me or Nowiski, who estimates she spends about $450 a month on medicines. She yet filled a prescription using the new coverage.

Nowiski the only person with questions about the gap in coverage of the most unpopular features of Medicare Part D. McClellan told seniors that Business 8 HE EWS BSERVER TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2006 MEDICARE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D 102030405060708090 102030405060708090 8D, TUESDAY, JANUARY10, 2006 A senior discusses her Medicare needs at Northwood Temple Academy in Fayetteville. STAFF PHOTO BY TAKAAKI IWABU STILL TIME TO ENROLL If not yet enrolled in Medicare Part the new optional prescription drug program, what you need to know to join. DEADLINES You have until May 15 to sign up without penalties. After May 15, you may have to pay higher premiums.

Your coverage will begin on the first day of the month after you enroll. HOW TO ENROLL You can enrollat Web site, www Or call (800) 6334227. WHERE TO GET HELP Many county and state agencies are helping Medicare recipients especially those without access to a computer or the Internet figure out their coverage needs. Statewide, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 7330111 or (800) 443-9354. In Wake County, Resources for Seniors at 872-7933.

In Durham County, Council for Senior Citizens at 688-8247, or Senior Pharmassist at 688-4772. In Orange County, the county Department on Aging at 968-2087. lots of said Gary Arlen, president of Arlen Communications in Bethesda, Md. NBCUniversal became the owner of WNCN about 10 years ago. The station often lags Capitol WRALand the Walt Disney WTVD, Schutz said.

Part of that is linked to its history. At Channel 17, the station has a higher channel assignment than the CBSand ABCaffiliates. When broadcast over the air, U.S. channels above 13 often have weaker reception.Cable has mitigated such challenges. The staffof the local NBCsta- tion was told of the planned sale Sunday night, said Barry Leffler, president and general manager.

really business as usual on all he said. It could take months for NBCto sell the stations and receive Federal Communications Commission approval to transfer the broadcast licenses. Whoever buys it likely will continue carrying NBCprogramming, Schutz said. As for the estimated NBC-17 could fetch $150 million. Staff writer Jonathan B.

Cox can be reached at 836-4948 or NBC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1D.