Medicare recipients may have a potentially overwhelming amount of choices. They may need to pick through dozens or hundreds of choices while applying the annual enrollment period between Nov. 15 through Dec. 31. Those that are enrolled in Medicare, might not need to do change anything. Assuming the coverage they have now is not changing, and it’s serving them well.( About 34 million people whose main coverage comes directly through the government). in this case they may want to inquire about their Medicare D prescription drug plans provided by private insurers, About 17 million of these people have the separate drug coverage. There are few reasons why staying put might not be such a good idea. Making a change might mean, that an array of Medicare options that has been expanding at a bewildering rate in the past decade will not be relevant. Traditional Medicare A : Covers hospitalizations and is provided at no charge , Medicare B: Covers fees from doctors and other health care providers yet requires a monthly premium. premiums for most current B enrollees will stay as is for 2009, at $96 per single month. However, New enrollees will pay 15 % more , $110.50 per single month. Seniors can choose from a very large number of specialized plans from the different private insurers. (Medicare D drug coverage for example). There are also a larger more inclusive private-carrier packages called Medicare Advantage, which are a bundle of Medicare A and B with a drug plan, along with special benefits like vision ,dental, and whole wellness coverage. At Each enrollment period you may change from one Medicare plan to an other Medicare plan or vice versa. You may add or drop a Medicare D plan. Remember you will not have a creditable Rx drug coverage if you don’t sign up for Medicare D when you have the option, for each month you will be penalized a 1 percent if not enrolling the plan at the date you were supposed to when you do sign up. This year’s Medicare enrollment period may be particularly tricky . Because there are so many Medicare options ,at Medicare Center, about 18 percent of the plans were eliminated from the Advantage plans, because they were very similar to other plans offered . Inevitably about 600,000 Medicare recipients must change plans this coming year because their former Advantage plans won’t exist any more. You’ll be receiving your copy of the 2010 “Medicare and You” handbook any day now. This Medicare booklet will explain all changes in this year’s enrollment period and will include all information on different Medicare alternatives and possibilities. Your research should start by examining this booklet very thoroughly !!!!