President Bush is calling for reforms to make private health insurance more affordable for Americans without raising taxes or creating new Federal entitlement programs. Mr. Bush said in his weekly radio address Saturday that rising health care costs make insurance too expensive for many Americans.

Medicare drug coverage enrollment deadline nears; however, Medicare will allow some changes until Feb. 15. Medicare partners and faith-based organizations help help the beneficiaries. Many opportunities nationwide, such as local pharmacies and online, permit Medicare drug plan enrollment.

Cost-conscious seniors seeking the lowest cost generic medicines need not battle holiday shoppers looking to take advantage of a price promotion. Low-cost generics can be found in Medco's Medicare Prescription Drug plan, Medco YOURx PLAN(TM), which offers more generics at a lower cost than even the most-widely touted superstore's retail pricing promotion.

Americans have not yet warmed to consumer-driven health insurance plans, a relatively new kind of coverage that offers reduced premiums but carries higher annual deductibles.

From Massachusetts to Hawaii, many states, counties and cities are working on ways to provide new health insurance options to the 45 million Americans who lack health insurance coverage.