Each October, open enrollment begins for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. Medicare plans and drug formularies change each year, so it is important for Oregonians who are enrolled in Medicare to evaluate their plan options and make changes during open enrollment, which is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Although we are experiencing a pandemic, this year is no different.

The Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program is still available to help at the Harney County Senior Center. Call for an appointment at 541-572-6024. Interviews are still conducted face-to-face, as long as there isn’t a spike in new COVID-19 cases. 

“In normal times, Medicare is a complex program,” Chiqui Flowers, Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace and SHIBA administrator, said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, open enrollment will be harder to navigate, but we are available to serve beneficiaries, and we’ll get through this hard time together.”

For more information about Medicare in general and Medicare open enrollment, sessions will be held virtually through live and recorded webinars. These webinars are available on SHIBA’s website, SHIBA.Oregon.gov.

SHIBA counselors can help Oregonians navigate the Medicare.gov Plan Finder Tool (Medicare.gov/plan-compare) to enter prescriptions and compare the cost and benefits of individual drug plans, provide enrollment guidance, and answer any other questions related to Medicare benefits.

SHIBA’s 2021 Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans will be available on SHIBA.Oregon.gov by Oct. 15 and in limited print copies in November. Find local help by calling 800-722-4134 (toll-free) or visiting SHIBA.Oregon.gov.

Oregon SHIBA is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov to receive consumer help and information on insurance, mortgages, investments, workplace safety, and more. You can also follow Oregon SHIBA on Facebook: Facebook.com/OregonSHIBA