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Here's a recap of the questions readers most often ask about Medicare Part D.

A. No. But if you are Medicare-eligible and don't sign up by midnight, you risk paying a late penalty later on.

A. The penalty would be 1 percent of the average monthly Part D premium nationwide. That 1 percent will be multiplied by the number of months you delay coverage. And you will pay the penalty as long as you're on Medicare.

The average monthly premium this year is $32.20. If it's the same in 2007, the penalty for not signing up by today would be 32 cents (1 percent of $32.20) multiplied by seven months (June through December of this year, when you could have signed up for coverage but did not) which equals $2.24 a month.

That isn't a lot, but it would be added to your monthly premium for as long as you're on Medicare.

Q. I'm on TRICARE and I have great prescription-drug coverage. Do I still have to sign up for Part D?

A. No, because you have what Medicare calls "creditable coverage" — it's at least as good as the standard Part D coverage — and you can stay with it as long as you want without having to pay a late penalty if you switch later.

Other types of "creditable coverage" include VA benefits, federal employees health plan benefits and any Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage, such as PacifiCare's Secure Horizons or Health Net's Senior Care.

If you think you have creditable coverage but aren't sure, call the company that provides your health care coverage. The phone number should be on your health plan ID card or a recent billing statement.

A. No. Prescription drugs purchased in Canada or Mexico are not covered.

A. No. You must wait until the next "open enrollment" period — Nov. 15 through Dec. 31 of this year — to change plans. There are exceptions, however. People who live in nursing homes and those who meet the Medicare definition of low-income can switch plans as often as they want to.

A. Yes, but your enrollment forms must be postmarked today. You also have until midnight local time to sign up by phone, but lines are expected to be very busy today. Here are some numbers to try:

l Medicare: 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE).

l The state's Medicare Hotline: 1-800-432-4040.

l Pima Council on Aging: 790-7262 or 546-2011.

l If you live in Cochise, Graham, Greenlee or Santa Cruz counties, you can call the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization at 1-520-432-5301.

l Go online to www.azstarnet.com/health to see the Arizona Daily Star's Medicare Part D charts that were published Sept. 25 and Nov. 13.

On StarNet: Find the series of Q&A articles at www.azstarnet.com/health