"Compare plans" means different things depending on the kind of coverage. Use the right tool for the question you're asking, and compare only what's offered in your county.
Medicare Advantage and Part D: use a plan finder
Medicare Advantage plans are offered county by county, and Part D plans differ by formulary, pharmacy network and premium, so the cleanest way to compare is a tool that uses current plan data and lets you enter your drugs and doctors. For 2027, CMS lists 61 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Oregon and 8 stand-alone Part D plans, but the Medicare Advantage plans in your county may be many fewer, and five counties have none. Check your county first.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder: the federal tool, which lists the Medicare health and drug plans available in your area.
- PlanMatch: a comparison tool from Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. Compare Oregon plans on PlanMatch.
- A licensed insurance agent: can run the comparison with you and explain trade-offs among plans from the companies they work with. You can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or meet licensed insurance agents in Oregon.
What to check in each plan
- Your doctors and hospital. Search the plan's provider directory for each one, and call the office to confirm.
- Your drugs. Enter each drug and dose. Check whether it's on the formulary, its tier, and any prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limits.
- Your pharmacy. Check whether it's in network and preferred; in rural Oregon your nearest pharmacy may not be.
- The yearly out-of-pocket limit. For 2027, no Medicare Advantage plan can set its in-network limit above $9,850; many set lower ones. Part D drug costs are capped separately at $2,400.
- Total yearly cost. Add premiums, deductibles and the copayments you expect, then look at the worst case, not only the premium.
- Extra benefits, if they matter to you. Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing or fitness. Extra benefits vary by plan and county, may have limits and costs, and not every plan offers them. Check a plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage.
Medigap: compare by letter, then by company
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plans are standardized by letter: a Plan G from one company has the same benefits as a Plan G from any other. Companies compete on price, rate method, rate stability and service, not benefits. So the comparison is simpler:
- Decide which plan letter fits your budget and needs. People newly eligible since 2020 can't buy Plans C or F.
- Get premiums from several companies for that letter in your ZIP code.
- Ask each company how it sets its rates and how its rates have changed over time.
- Remember Oregon's birthday rule: each year, from 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday, you can switch to a policy with the same or lesser benefits without health questions (OAR 836-052-0143).
Read the Medigap in Oregon guide.
Why not just pick the lowest premium?
For Medicare Advantage, a low premium can come with higher copayments, a higher out-of-pocket limit or a narrower network. Compare what you'd pay in a year when you need a hospital stay or many specialist visits, not just a healthy year.
For Part D, the lowest-premium plan is rarely the lowest total cost if you take regular medications. Compare premium + deductible + what you pay for your specific drugs, at your pharmacy.
When to compare
- Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7 every year. Changes start January 1. Open Enrollment for 2027 is under way now; read your plan's Annual Notice of Change.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31, one change for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Special Enrollment Periods: if you move, lose other coverage, have Medicaid or Extra Help, your plan leaves your county, or a disaster such as a wildfire is declared where you live.
- Initial Enrollment Period: the 7 months around your 65th birthday month, the most important time to compare, along with your 6-month Medigap open enrollment.
Is your plan ending for 2027? Some companies stop offering Medicare Advantage plans in some Oregon counties for 2027. If you got a non-renewal letter, choose a new plan by December 31, 2026 for no gap in coverage; you have a Special Enrollment Period through February 28, 2027 and a Medigap guaranteed-issue right for 63 days after your plan ends. See Oregon plans ending in 2027.
See the full enrollment guide.
Related guides
- Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: the bigger choice that comes first
- Part D in Oregon
- Medicare costs in Oregon
- How do I choose a Medicare plan in Oregon?
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Find health and drug plans (Plan Finder)
- Medicare.gov — What Medicare drug plans cover
- Medicare.gov — Compare Medigap plan benefits
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
- CMS — Medicare Advantage announcements and documents (CY2027 out-of-pocket limits and Part D parameters)
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D contract and enrollment data (CY2027 Landscape, Oregon plan counts)
- Oregon Secretary of State — OAR 836-052-0143, Medigap birthday rule
- Oregon Division of Financial Regulation — Contact us
Frequently asked questions
What's the best way to compare Medicare Advantage plans in Oregon?
Enter your ZIP code, your exact drugs and doses, your pharmacy and your doctors into a plan finder such as Medicare.gov's Plan Finder or PlanMatch. Then compare each plan's network, yearly out-of-pocket limit, drug costs and premium. Plans differ by county, so compare only the plans offered where you live.
How do I compare Medigap policies in Oregon?
Choose the plan letter first, since a Plan G or Plan N has the same benefits from every company. Then compare premiums from several companies for that letter, how each company sets its rates (attained age or another method), and its rate history. The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation regulates Medigap companies in Oregon.
When can I compare and change Medicare plans in Oregon?
During Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, for coverage starting January 1. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also change once from January 1 to March 31. A Special Enrollment Period, such as moving or a plan leaving your county, lets you change at other times.
Does it cost anything to compare plans with a licensed insurance agent?
Agents are paid by the insurance companies when you enroll, so you don't pay the agent a fee. Agents can compare plans only from the companies they work with; for information on all your options, you can also contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Medicare in your Oregon county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Multnomah · Washington · Clackamas · Lane · Marion · Jackson · Deschutes · Linn · Douglas · Yamhill · Benton · Polk · Josephine · Umatilla · Klamath · Coos · Columbia · Lincoln · Clatsop · Malheur · All 36 counties →
