Blue Mountain Health System will co-sponsor a Medicare Part D open enrollment program with the Carbon County Area Agency on Aging at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, in the ground floor community room at the Gnaden Huetten campus, 211 N. 12th St., Lehighton.

Medicare part D offers prescription drug coverage to everyone with Medicare. If you decide not to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan when you're first eligible, and you don't have other creditable prescription drug coverage, you'll likely pay a late enrollment penalty. To get Medicare drug coverage, you must join a plan run by an insurance company or other private company approved by Medicare. Each plan can vary in cost and drugs covered. There are specific times when you can sign up for these plans, or make changes to coverage you already have. You don't need to sign up for Medicare each year. However, each year you'll have a chance to review your coverage and change plans.If you currently have Medicare Hospital or Medicare Medical Insurance (Parts A and/or B), you can enroll or re-enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan with Prescription Coverage starting on Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 of each year. This time period is called the Annual Coordinated Election Period and your newly chosen Medicare Part D plan begins on Jan. 1 of the following year. this enrollment will be facilitated by Carbon County Area Agency on Aging representatives. Please register at 610-377-7070.