The Butler County Area Agency on Aging is offering free sessions to help people sign up for Medicare.

This is being done because Medicare’s open enrollment starts Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7.

That enrollment or any changes made to a persons’s Medicare plan, including costs, become effective Jan. 1.

Medicare health plans and prescription drug plans can be changed each year. Review your plan to make sure it will continue to meet your needs for the following year.

If you are satisfied with your current plan, you don’t need to do anything.

The Agency on Aging APPRISE Program is offering these update sessions at senior centers.

Anyone can come to these public events where information on what changes may be expected and how to make plan comparisons will be provided.

Here are times and places to enroll in Medicare.

• Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. at the West Sunbury Presbyterian Church

• Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. at the Cranberry Township Municipal Building

• Sept. 25 at 11 a.m. at Luther Court apartments, 700 S. Green Lane, Zelienople

• Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the rear of the Tanglewood Center, Lyndora

• Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. at the Ritzert Social Hall, Zelienople

• Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church, Old Route 422, Mt. Chestnut

• Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Moose Lodge, Chicora

• Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. at the Penn-Mar Plaza in Mars

• Oct. 4 at 11 a.m. at the Slippery Rock Municipal Building

• Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. at the Winfield Volunteer Fire Company fire hall.

The information is general. Individual discussion and plan comparison is available for free in the agency’s office by appointment. The offices are at Building 3, 111 Sunnyview Circle, Butler.

An appointment is necessary and no walk-in meetings will be possible.

Call 724-282-3008 for an appointment and bring a family member.