The South Dakota Department of Social Services is working to inform residents about the Long-Term Care Partnership Program. In April, education sessions will be held in Lemmon, Buffalo, Spearfish, Custer, Hot Springs and Rapid City.

The program is for people who want to find out more about long-term care, the costs related to it, how to plan for long-term care needs, what Medicare and Medicaid will cover and how the Long-Term Care Partnership Program can help. The sessions are free and open to the public. Each is scheduled for one hour.

The Long-Term Care Partnership Program is a public-private partnership offering individuals quality, affordable long-term care insurance, according to the department of social services. After private insurance benefits are used, special Medicaid eligibility rules are applied if additional coverage is necessary.

For more information, go to the Web site www.ltcpartnership.sd.gov or call 800-597-1603.

Here are the session times:

Lemmon: Monday, April 7, Noon, Community Center, 100 Third St. West

Buffalo: Monday, April 7, 5:30 p.m., Harding County Memorial Rec Center, 209 Ramsland St.

Custer: Tuesday, April 8, 9 a.m., Main Street Market Place, 529 Mount Rushmore Road

Hot Springs: Tuesday, April 8, Noon, Super 8 Motel, 800 Mammoth St.

Spearfish: Thursday, April 10, 9 a.m., Hudson Hall, 222 West Hudson

Rapid City: Thursday, April 10, Noon and 7 p.m., Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Room 102, 444 N. Mount Rushmore Road.

If you are unable to attend a session, a free conference call is available and will be conducted at both 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Friday, April 11.

To participate, dial toll-free 866-809-6529 and enter the following ID number followed by the pound key: 8448656#. Callers can also download and print a copy of the presentation at www.ltcpartnership.sd.gov that will be used during the call.