Medicare's website has information about Part D drug plans available where you live, including the medications currently in each plan's formulary. Or you can contact Medicare by phone at (800) 633-4227. You can also get free, independent expert help in choosing a plan from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). You can also get independent help online from the Medicare Rights Center.

Once you've gathered information about plans and narrowed their choices, it's time to directly contact the plans that seem the best. It's only from the plans themselves that you can be sure to get the latest information -- in writing -- about coverage, costs, and restrictions. Once you decide on a particular plan, you enroll directly with it, not with Medicare.