With a May 15 deadline to join a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan offering coverage for 2006, Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine is urging Georgians with questions about the new plans to contact Medicare first, either by phone or on their Website, to get the most accurate and up-to-date information about the federal program.

Oxendine said that although these plans are sold on an individual basis by a number of different entities, many of which are licensed insurance companies, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans are not subject to state law and regulation. The Medicare drug plans, offered in Georgia and elsewhere across the U.S., are filed with and approved by Medicare officials within the federal government.

"We have received a significant number of consumer calls about this new program," Oxendine said. "Based on these calls, we recognize that there is a considerable level of misunderstanding among seniors and their families about how these Medicare Part D plans are organized and regulated."

The best official, independent and unbiased information on these Medicare Part D stand-alone plans is available through the Medicare website: h t t p : / / w w w. m e d i c a r e . g o v / pdphone.asp or through Medicare's toll free phone number, 1-800-MEDICARE, which is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

"As always, we want to help serve the needs of Georgians in all their insurance related matters," Oxendine said. "And we can help explain some general aspects of Medicare Part D, as it relates to the authority we have over insurance products and insurers in Georgia. Consumers can continue to contact us about any of their insurance needs from anywhere in Georgia at 800-656-2298, or 404-6562070 locally in Metro Atlanta."