This page explains how Medicare works with the health programs of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). 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 Yellowhawk directly.
Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center
The tribe's offices are on Timíne Way near Pendleton. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is at 46314 Timíne Way, Pendleton (main line 541-966-9830 or 888-935-4295). The tribe says Yellowhawk has been a tribally governed facility since 1996, overseen by a Tribal Health Commission, and gives outpatient primary care to CTUIR members and other eligible American Indians.
The tribe lists outpatient medical, dental, mental health, alcohol and drug treatment, pharmacy, lab and radiology, plus public health nursing, community health representatives, senior meals and caregiver services. Yellowhawk's contact page also lists optometry, physical therapy and transportation.
Referred care and Medicare
When you need care Yellowhawk doesn't provide, it may refer you to an outside provider; Yellowhawk publishes a "Referrals, Appeals, & Denials" resource for patients. Under federal rules, the Indian Health Service 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 Business Office (541-240-8696) how referrals work for you before you schedule outside care.
How Medicare works with your Yellowhawk 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). Every Part D plan must offer contract terms to Indian health pharmacies in its area; ask Yellowhawk's pharmacy (541-240-8691) which plans it works with.
- 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 Umatilla County
CMS Landscape data show no Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in Umatilla County for 2026 or 2027; the only Medicare Advantage plans there are employer group plans. That means most people in Umatilla County use Original Medicare, which pays any provider in the country that accepts Medicare, including Yellowhawk. Many add one of the 8 standalone Part D plans sold in Oregon, and some buy a Medigap policy. See Medicare in Umatilla County and tribal health and Medicare in Oregon.
Where to get help
- Yellowhawk's Business Office, for questions about billing and referrals.
- 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
- Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation — Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center
- Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center — Contact
- 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 CTUIR members need to enroll in Medicare?
Medicare is your choice, but tribal health care is not insurance. Medicare covers care anywhere in the country and lets Yellowhawk bill Medicare, and federal rules make IHS-funded referred care the payer of last resort when Medicare or other coverage could pay.
Can I join a Medicare Advantage plan in Umatilla County?
CMS data show no Medicare Advantage plan open to everyone in Umatilla 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.
Who can I ask at Yellowhawk about Medicare billing?
Yellowhawk lists a Business Office at 541-240-8696 and a main line at 541-966-9830. They can explain how your Medicare, tribal and referred care benefits work together.
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