Three northern Penobscot County hospitals will sign up area residents for free or low-cost health insurance available through the state as part of a nationwide project called “Cover the Uninsured Week.”

Millinocket Regional Hospital, Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln and the Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten are inviting residents to sign up for the MaineCare health insurance program.

Martin Sabol, a spokesman for the Maine Primary Care Association, said many residents without insurance do not realize they may be eligible for the MaineCare program.

He said the program provides many services including office visits, prescription drugs and travel to medical appointments. It is available to residents meeting certain income guidelines such as $36,804 for a family of four, or an income of $17,562 or less for an older couple.

Citing a report prepared by Families USA, Sabol said about 254,000 Maine residents, or one in four, went without insurance for a period of time last year. He said about 148,000 residents had no insurance for at least six months.

Residents can sign up for the MaineCare program from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten and from noon to 8 p.m. at Millinocket Regional Hospital.

Penobscot Valley Hospital staff will enroll people at a booth that will be in place during the Lincoln Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce’s trade show and community fair, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln.