OEBB educator retirees and Medicare

The Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB), part of the Oregon Health Authority, provides health benefits for employees of participating Oregon education employers, such as school districts, education service districts and community colleges. OEBB retirees face the same basic turning point as PEBB retirees: OEBB retiree medical coverage stops when you become eligible for Medicare.

Who OEBB retiree coverage is for

OEBB's retiree guide defines an early retiree as an OEBB member who retires before 65, is not eligible for Medicare and receives a PERS service retirement allowance or another qualifying retirement benefit. Whether your former employer pays part of the premium is set by that employer's policy or bargaining agreement, so check with your district or college benefits office before you retire.

When OEBB coverage ends

Under OAR 111-050-0015:

• Medical and vision end at Medicare eligibility. An early retiree who becomes eligible for Medicare can't continue OEBB medical or vision coverage. OEBB benefits end the last day of the month before the Medicare effective date.
• ESRD exception. If you become eligible for Medicare because of end-stage renal disease, coverage can continue; OEBB's retiree guide says for 30 months.
• Report Medicare promptly. The rule says to report Medicare eligibility within 31 days, or OEBB may take back coverage to the date you became eligible. OEBB's guide asks retirees to tell their employer as soon as possible.
• Dental may continue if your employer's policy or bargaining agreement allows it.
• Family members: dependents covered at retirement who aren't eligible for Medicare can keep coverage until they lose eligibility or become eligible for Medicare themselves.

Medicare enrollment at 65

Because OEBB medical coverage ends, plan to have Medicare Parts A and B start the first day of your Medicare month. Retiree coverage isn't coverage from current employment, so it doesn't give you a special enrollment period for Part B later. Sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period, the seven months around your 65th birthday month. A late Part B penalty adds 10% to your premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't, for as long as you have Part B.

If you are still working for an OEBB employer at 65 with active-employee coverage, you can delay Part B without penalty until that job or coverage ends. See working past 65 in Oregon.

Your coverage options after OEBB

• PERS Health Insurance Program (PHIP): if you retired under PERS, you can join PHIP's Medicare plans, which require Parts A and B and include prescription drug coverage. Tier One and Tier Two retirees with eight or more years of service may get the RHIA premium subsidy. See PEBB retirees and Medicare for PHIP enrollment windows and RHIA rules.
• Individual Medicare coverage: Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and a Part D plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Your first six months with Part B at 65 are your Medigap open enrollment period. See Medigap in Oregon.
• A spouse's employer plan from current work, if available.

Part B premiums

You pay the Part B premium to Medicare ($202.90 a month standard in 2026), usually from your Social Security benefit. OEBB doesn't pay it. If your income two years earlier was above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (married filing jointly), you also pay IRMAA. For 2026, that means your 2024 income.

Part D and drug coverage

OEBB pharmacy coverage ends with your medical coverage. You then need Medicare drug coverage: a PHIP Medicare plan (all include drug coverage), a standalone Part D plan with Original Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage. Enroll so there's no gap of 63 days or more after your OEBB coverage ends, or you could owe a Part D late-enrollment penalty. Keep the creditable coverage notices OEBB sends. In 2026 Part D caps your out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100.

If you retire at 65 or later

If you work past 65 with OEBB active-employee coverage and then retire:

• You have a Part B special enrollment period for 8 months after your job or that coverage ends, whichever comes first. Don't wait for the end of it: sign up so Part B starts when OEBB coverage ends.
• You have 63 days after losing creditable drug coverage to join a Part D plan without a penalty.
• When you first enroll in Part B, your six-month Medigap open enrollment period starts.
• For PHIP, check the 90-day enrollment windows with PERS Health (1-800-768-7377).

Resources and contacts

• OEBB: OEBB Retiree Guide
• Your district's or college's benefits office: retiree eligibility and employer contributions
• PERS Health Insurance Program: 1-800-768-7377; pershealth.com
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), for Medicare enrollment
• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) and Medicare.gov
• Licensed insurance agents: to compare individual Medicare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.

Related guides

Sources

• OAR 111-050-0015 — OEBB early retiree eligibility (Cornell LII)
• Oregon Health Authority — OEBB Retiree Guide
• Oregon PERS — PERS Health Insurance Program (PHIP)
• OAR 459-035-0030 — RHIA eligibility
• Medicare.gov — When can I sign up for Medicare?

Frequently asked questions

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