Now that the election is behind us, many senior citizens will have to make another choice which, from a quality of life standpoint, could be as important as who they voted for in the presidential election. Beginning Nov. 15 until the end of the year, seniors who have been participating in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D) can remain in their existing plan or switch coverage to a new company. Seniors that do have a Medicare D Plan should spend some time to make sure that, moving forward, they're in the right plan.

There was great skepticism in 2005 when the prescription drug plan was passed. Although it got off to a rocky start, by most accounts it has been a success. More than 30 million seniors are enrolled in Medicare Part D and they have seen significant savings on prescription drugs. In fact, Medicare has saved billions of dollars on drug spending. Enrolling in the plan is definitely something that seniors should consider.

During open enrollment period, I recommend anyone in Medicare D review their situation. After all, health situations change, prescriptions may be different and Medicare D Plans are also changing. In fact, some plans are lowering premiums. Just because a plan worked this year does not mean it's going to be the right plan for next year. Also, don't forget that in many situations it makes sense for spouses to have different plans. In doing research, husbands and wives should each look at their situation independently.

In deciding whether to retain current coverage, it is important to know there are no penalties to switching plans. As long as you do it during the open enrollment period (Nov. 15-Dec. 31), there is no cost. In addition, there is no gap in coverage or double coverage.

The new plan begins Jan. 1, 2009, while the old plan ends Dec. 31.

Although the drug plan has been a success and has saved seniors a substantial amount of money, to fully benefit from the program you must be proactive. It would be nice if there were only a few different options available to make selecting easy.

Considering the complexity of health care, it would be nearly impossible to only have a few options and at the same time deliver the savings and benefits to seniors.

Whether assisting someone or doing it on your own, it's important to base your decision upon your individual situation. Consider the drugs you are taking, including quantity, dosage, frequency and whether a generic equivalent is available.

The Internet is an excellent place to do research. The first place that you should go is the Medicare Web site (www.medicare.gov). This Web site has good information and allows you to compare different plans. It is also easy to use and navigate.

I recognize that many seniors are not computer savvy, but that does not mean that you can't take advantage of the government's Web site. Ask a grandchild who ultimately knows more about computers than you and I and don't forget about the public libraries. Public libraries do an excellent job of helping people navigate and learn the Internet. For those individuals who prefer to talk to an individual, call (800) MEDICARE or (800) 633-4227.

You can make changes to your prescription drug plan only once a year, so make sure you get the plan that best suits your situation. Begin your research as soon as possible, take your time, ask questions and, most importantly, save money.