On Medicare in Oregon? Check your mail for 2027 coverage changes.

By KRISTINE DE LEON/The Oregonian/OregonLive

For Oregonians on Medicare, some of the most important mail arriving this fall may also be among the easiest to overlook.
Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans are notifying members about changes to their 2027 coverage ahead of Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which begins Oct. 15.

For most enrollees, an Annual Notice of Change will spell out how their plan will differ next year, including changes to costs, prescription drug coverage and other benefits. Some Oregonians will get a different notice telling them their plan won’t return in 2027.

Louise Norris, a health policy analyst with medicareresources.org, said Medicare beneficiaries should pay close attention to the notices because even a plan that worked well this year may look very different next year.

Premiums and other out-of-pocket costs can rise. Prescription drug coverage can change. Doctors and hospitals can leave a plan’s network. And extra benefits such as dental and vision coverage can change, she said.

People don’t have to switch plans every year. But Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can change their costs and coverage from year to year, so Norris recommends checking whether a plan still meets their needs before deciding to stay with it.

More than 976,000 Oregonians are eligible for Medicare, and roughly 523,000 are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans as of September, according to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data. Another 307,000 are enrolled in stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans.

Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. During that window, beneficiaries can change Medicare Advantage plans, switch between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare or change their prescription drug coverage. Those changes generally take effect Jan. 1.

What these notices can tell you

People whose Medicare Advantage or Part D plans will continue next year should receive an Annual Notice of Change outlining what will change in 2027.

Norris said beneficiaries should start by comparing their current coverage with what their plan will offer next year, including changes to premiums, deductibles, copays and benefits they regularly use.

“If you’ve been relying heavily on your plan’s dental benefits and they’re cutting those benefits for next year, that’s something you want to find out now, rather than when you go to schedule a dentist appointment in March,” she said.

People who take prescription drugs should check whether their medications will still be covered next year and what they will cost. Plans can remove drugs from their formularies, which list covered medications, move them to different pricing tiers or add restrictions on how members obtain them.

Those changes can increase what someone pays for a prescription even if the plan’s monthly premium changes little, Norris said.

Doctors and hospitals can leave networks

Keeping the same Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t guarantee access to the same doctors and hospitals next year.

Hospitals and insurers regularly negotiate contracts that determine whether patients can receive care at in-network rates. If those talks break down, a hospital or health system can leave an insurer’s network even if the plan itself isn’t going away.

OHSU will no longer be in-network for Regence Medicare Advantage plans beginning Jan. 1. Legacy Health could also leave UnitedHealthcare’s network if the two sides don’t reach a new contract by the end of the month.

For patients, losing an in-network hospital can mean higher costs or having to find another provider. Those with HMO plans generally must use in-network providers for nonemergency care, while those with PPO plans can typically go outside the network but may pay more.

With original Medicare, beneficiaries generally can use any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare. But there’s no annual cap on out-of-pocket costs, so some people buy supplemental Medigap coverage to help pay those expenses.

What if your Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Some Oregonians face a bigger decision this year because their Medicare Advantage plan won’t return in 2027.

That includes most people enrolled in Providence Medicare Advantage plans, which are being discontinued. Affected members will need to choose new coverage for next year. Their current coverage will continue through Dec. 31.

Members who want to stay in Medicare Advantage can choose another plan available where they live. Norris said those who don’t choose another Medicare Advantage plan before their current coverage ends generally will return to original Medicare.

People who switch to original Medicare typically need to buy a separate Part D plan if they want prescription drug coverage. They can also buy a Medigap policy to help pay some of the costs not covered by original Medicare.

When a Medicare Advantage plan ends, Norris said members who switch to original Medicare get a limited window to buy certain Medigap policies regardless of their health. That window generally runs from 60 days before their Medicare Advantage coverage ends to 63 days after.

“People should realize that this is a one-time opportunity to reconsider and potentially pick a Medigap plan,” she said. “If that’s the best option for them, this is their one shot to do it.”

Look beyond the monthly premium

Norris recommends comparing more than monthly premiums, including how much each option could cost over the course of a year.

People choosing between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare with Medigap should also consider how the two types of coverage differ.

“Are you willing to have a provider network and potentially higher out-of-pocket costs in exchange for lower premiums?” Norris said. “Or would you rather have nationwide access with no prior authorization, with the trade-off of higher premiums?”

Once 2027 plans become available, beneficiaries can compare Medicare Advantage and Part D options at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Oregonians who want help sorting through their choices can find free classes on the state’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program, or SHIBA, website or call 800-722-4134 for Medicare counseling.

Counties in the Portland tri-county area also provide Medicare counseling through SHIBA. Multnomah County is holding appointment-only counseling at libraries and community sites, while Washington County’s Disability, Aging and Veteran Services is offering one-on-one assistance at several locations. Clackamas County has one-on-one help by phone, in person and online.

This story was originally published on Sept. 29, 2026 by The Oregonian/OregonLive.