This page explains how Medicare works with the health programs of the Burns Paiute Tribe. It is published by Benefits Life, a licensed insurance agency. We are not affiliated with the tribe. For tribal eligibility, benefits and current hours, contact the tribe's health programs directly.
Burns Paiute tribal health services
The tribe's offices are at 100 Pasigo Street in Burns, in Harney County (541-573-2088). The tribe's Wadatika Health Clinic is at 50 Pasigo Street, Burns (541-573-8050), open Monday through Friday, by appointment only. The tribe also runs a Mental Health Program, an Alcohol and Drug Program, a Tobacco and Suicide Prevention Program and a Food Distribution Program.
Harney County is large and rural, so hospital and specialist care often means travel. Medicare is accepted by providers across the country, which matters when care isn't available locally.
Referred care and Medicare
When you need care the clinic doesn't provide, ask the clinic how referred care works for you. Under federal rules, the Indian Health Service, including Purchased/Referred Care, is the payer of last resort: it does not pay when Medicare, Medicaid or other coverage would pay (42 CFR 136.61). With Medicare, outside providers bill Medicare first. Ask the clinic before you schedule outside care whether you need approval.
How Medicare works with your Burns Paiute care
- Medicare pays your clinic. CMS says you can keep using your Indian health care provider, and the provider bills Medicare for you.
- Part B. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Tribal health care is not employer coverage, so it doesn't let you delay Part B without a late enrollment penalty.
- Part D. Drug coverage from IHS, a tribe or an urban Indian organization counts as creditable coverage, so you won't pay a Part D late penalty for the months you had it (42 CFR 423.56). If you later want a Part D plan, ask the clinic which plans work with the pharmacies it uses.
- No special enrollment rules. Tribal members use the same enrollment periods as everyone else. Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
- Help paying. If your income is limited, you may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, Extra Help or the Oregon Health Plan.
Medicare plans in Harney County
CMS Landscape data show no Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in Harney County for 2026 or 2027; the only Medicare Advantage plans there are employer group plans. That means most people in Harney County use Original Medicare, which pays any provider in the country that accepts Medicare. Many add one of the 8 standalone Part D plans sold in Oregon, and some buy a Medigap policy. See Medicare in Harney County, rural Oregon and Medicare and tribal health and Medicare in Oregon.
Where to get help
- The Wadatika Health Clinic, for questions about your tribal health benefits.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or Medicare.gov.
- Social Security, 1-800-772-1213, to sign up for Part A and Part B.
- To compare Part D and Medigap options, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see licensed insurance agents in Oregon.
See all Oregon tribal Medicare guides.
Sources
- Burns Paiute Tribe — Wadatika Health Clinic
- Burns Paiute Tribe — Official website
- CMS — Important Facts about Medicare for American Indians and Alaska Natives
- CMS — Medicare and Tribal Medicare Beneficiaries: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- CMS — CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files
- 42 CFR 136.61 — Payor of last resort
- 42 CFR 423.56 — Creditable prescription drug coverage
Frequently asked questions
Do Burns Paiute members need to enroll in Medicare?
Medicare is your choice, but tribal health care is not insurance. Medicare covers care anywhere in the country, including hospitals and specialists outside Harney County, and lets the clinic bill Medicare for covered services.
Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan in Harney County?
CMS data show no Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in Harney County for 2026 or 2027, only employer group plans. Most people there use Original Medicare, often with a Part D drug plan and sometimes a Medigap policy.
Are there special Medicare enrollment periods for tribal members?
No. American Indians and Alaska Natives use the same Medicare enrollment periods as everyone else: the Initial Enrollment Period around age 65, Open Enrollment from October 15 to December 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31.
How do I reach the Wadatika Health Clinic?
The tribe lists the Wadatika Health Clinic at 50 Pasigo Street in Burns, 541-573-8050, open Monday through Friday by appointment.
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