Oregon Medicare comparisons
Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Oregon
Costs, networks, travel, Oregon's birthday rule, and the counties with few or no Medicare Advantage plans.
OHP vs. Medicare
Who qualifies for each, what each covers, CCOs, Medicare Savings Programs and how they work together if you have both.
IHS and tribal clinics vs. Medicare
How IHS, Oregon's tribal clinics, Purchased/Referred Care and Medicare fit together, and why enrolling helps.
PEBB, OEBB and PERS vs. individual Medicare plans
When public employee coverage ends, Part B rules, PERS Health Insurance Program plans and the RHIA subsidy.
Also see Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage in Oregon and how to compare plans.
How to use these comparisons
- Start with what you already have. If you have OHP, IHS or tribal care, or PEBB, OEBB or PERS coverage, read that comparison first, because it can change which Medicare choice makes sense.
- List your doctors, hospitals and drugs. Check whether each one works with the coverage you're considering, including the hospital you'd be sent to from a rural emergency room.
- Check your county. Plan choices range from none to dozens depending on where you live. See our counties page.
- Check the deadlines. Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for 2027 coverage. See Medicare open enrollment in Oregon.
- Get help if you want it. To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see plans for your ZIP code.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Oregon Health Authority — OHP and Medicare
- 42 CFR 136.61, IHS payer of last resort (via Cornell LII)
- Or. Admin. Code § 101-050-0010, PEBB retiree coverage termination (via Cornell LII)
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, contract year 2027 (plan counts)
Frequently asked questions
What is the main Medicare choice in Oregon?
Whether to use Original Medicare, usually with a Medigap policy and a Part D drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Original Medicare works with any provider in the country that accepts Medicare, while most Medicare Advantage plans use networks. For 2027, CMS lists 61 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Oregon, and five counties have none.
Can I have OHP and Medicare at the same time?
Yes. People who qualify for both are called dual eligibles. Medicare pays first, and OHP can help with Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance and covers some care Medicare doesn't. Most OHP members with Medicare get their drugs through Medicare Part D.
Do I need Medicare if I use IHS or a tribal clinic?
Usually it helps. IHS and tribal health programs are not insurance, and Purchased/Referred Care is the payer of last resort. Medicare covers care outside the clinic and lets the clinic bill Medicare for care it gives you. IHS doesn't let you delay Part B without a penalty.
What happens to PEBB or OEBB retiree coverage when I get Medicare?
It ends the last day of the month before the month you become eligible for Medicare. PERS retirees can choose PERS Health Insurance Program Medicare plans instead, or buy individual Medigap, Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.
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 →
