State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long is reminding the state's 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries that the Medicare Part D open-enrollment period runs through Dec. 31.

Beneficiaries can decide whether to stay with their current Part D prescription drug plans (PDP), change their Part D coverage, or enroll if they have not already done so.

SHIIP, or the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Pro-gram, employs trained staff who can answer questions about Medicare Part D. For the coming year, North Carolina's PDPs have seen several changes including 13 new plans and five new companies providing Part D coverage.