The Purchase Area Development District’s State Health Insurance Program has planned multiple open enrollment dates in order to help individuals compare their Medicare health and prescription drug coverage for 2013.

Enrollment dates will take place at senior citizen centers across western Kentucky with insurance specialists available to help people review their 2013 Medicare plan. Those people enrolling must bring their Medicare card, list of prescriptions with frequency and dosage amounts, and preferred pharmacy.

Specialists will be available at the following enrollment locations:

n Today, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Murray-Calloway County Senior Citizens Center.

n Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fulton County Senior Citizens Center in Hickman.

n Oct. 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mayfield-Graves County Senior Citizens Center.

n Oct. 30, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Marshall Senior Citizens Center in Benton.

n Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeland Wesley Village in Marshall County.

n Nov. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Citizens Center.

n Nov. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hickman County Senior Citizens Center in Clinton.

n Nov. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ballard County Senior Citizens Center in Barlow.

n Nov. 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carlisle County Senior Citizens Center in Bardwell.

n Nov. 27, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Marshall Senior Citizens Center in Calvert City.

Every year there are new prescription drug and health plan coverage choices available to people with Medicare.

Open enrollment is the period of time when current or newly-eligible Medicare beneficiaries, including people with original Medicare, can review their current health or prescription drug plans, compare the plans to other options, and choose the plans that best meet their current needs.

Medicare has several ways to ensure people receive information in helping them decide on what coverage they need.

People can receive one-on-one help from their county’s local SHIP volunteer by contacting their local senior citizen center of the Purchase Area Development District at 1-877-352-5183 or 270-247-7171.

Medicare’s website — www.medicare.gov — provides personalized comparison of costs and coverages with plans in the area, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to find out more about coverage options. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.