Medicare open enrollment for 2027 benefits begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and Beaverton-area seniors facing major plan changes can get free, one-on-one help at the Elsie Stuhr Center on Hall Boulevard.
HealthSpring is leaving Washington County for 2027. Statewide, more than 162,000 Oregonians are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans that will be discontinued or no longer offered in their county for 2027, according to an analysis first reported by The Oregonian. About 75,000 of those people are covered by insurers leaving their county altogether.
Washington County's Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program, run by the county's Disability, Aging and Veteran Services office, is offering free counseling by appointment at the Stuhr Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays during the enrollment period, which runs through Monday, Dec. 7. The center is at 5550 SW Hall Blvd.
Bobbie Hoke, program coordinator with Washington County DAVS, said her office has fielded a steady stream of calls since August. Volunteer counselors are handling roughly 70 calls a day, according to volunteer counselor Mary Richardson.
"It scares us that there's so many people will need help this fall and there may not be enough volunteers to help," Hoke told The Oregonian. "Medicare is complicated, and 2027 will see some significant Medicare Advantage plan changes."
A free Medicare 101 presentation, no registration required, will be held at the Stuhr Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Beyond HealthSpring's exit, Providence Health Plan is ending all of its Medicare Advantage plans after 2026, and PacificSource is leaving the Portland tri-county area. Oregon's average Medicare Advantage premium will rise from $25.15 to $26.30 for 2027. The cheapest stand-alone Part D drug plan in Oregon will cost $5.30 a month, with no zero-premium options available.
The annual cap on out-of-pocket spending for Part D drugs will increase from $2,100 to $2,400, and the maximum deductible rises from $615 to $700.
Hoke said in a Washington County statement that the right coverage depends on each person's medications, doctors and what they can afford out of pocket.
Before a SHIBA appointment, counselors recommend gathering a Medicare card, pharmacy name and address, a list of all prescriptions with dosages, a list of providers and which plans those providers accept.
Setting up a Medicare.gov account in advance saves time. Counselors also warn residents to use Medicare.gov directly rather than look-alike sites advertising Medicare help.
No SHIBA sessions will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11, Thursday, Nov. 26 or Friday, Nov. 27. Beneficiaries whose plans are ending have a special enrollment period from Tuesday, Dec. 8 through the end of February to choose new coverage.
To schedule a SHIBA appointment, call 503-846-3094. The Elsie Stuhr Center, operated by Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District (THPRD), can be reached at 503-629-6342. Oregon's statewide SHIBA line is 800-722-4134, available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Upcoming dates:
- Oct. 15: Medicare open enrollment begins
- Nov. 10: Free Medicare 101 presentation, Elsie Stuhr Center, 10–11:30 a.m.
- Dec. 7: Open enrollment deadline
