WELLSBORO - The Elder Services Workgroup of the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging and Apprise, a state health insurance counseling program, is offering a Medicare Part D Seminar on Nov. 19 for anyone eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.

There are more than 50 Medicare prescription drug plans for residents of Tioga County to choose from, differing in the monthly drug premium, the annual deductible and the medication that is covered, said partnership spokesman Brian Kennedy.

Each year, eligible Medicare recipients are allowed to enroll or re-enroll in one of the plans from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31.

To assist them in finding the most cost effective plan, trained Apprise counselors will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a short opening talk from the regional APPRISE coordinator at 10 a.m.

All attendees should bring a list of their medications and their Medicare cards and are asked to register by calling 800-822-6793.

People from outside the county and the state can stop by as well, Kennedy said.

"The counselors can tell what plans are available based on a person's zip code. This is a free service that could translate into cost savings for those who attend," he said.

Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some disabled people under age 65, and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant).

APPRISE is the state health insurance assistance program for Pennsylvanians age 60 and over. The state Department of Aging created APPRISE to help older adults understand their health insurance options and make sound decisions about what is best for them. APPRISE health insurance counseling services are available through Pennsylvania's 52 county Area Agencies on Aging. Services are provided at no cost to consumers and are kept confidential.

APPRISE counselors are specially trained volunteers and paid staff who can answer your questions about Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap, long term care insurance, filing appeals and preventive care. The counselors have direct access to state and federal Medicare information and resources and provide objective, easy-to-understand information about health insurance. The continuing efforts of APPRISE staff are essential in providing reliable, unbiased and understandable health insurance information to people with Medicare.