DECISION 2024 | On-the-ground election coverage in Oregon and by local reporters in all 50 states. Fair. Fearless. Free. NATIONAL COVERAGE
Open enrollment already started for Medicare, with open enrollment for individual plans on the federal marketplace starting Nov. 1. (Getty Images)
State officials are offering free help enrolling in insurance to 1 million Oregons who qualify for Medicare or buy health insurance on the federal marketplace.
Open enrollment for Medicare, available to those at least 65 years old or receiving Social Security disability benefits, started Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, while open enrollment for buying individual plans starts Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15. Only a fraction of Oregonians buy their own insurance — about 145,500 — while more than 930,000 people are on Medicare.
During open Medicare enrollment, people can enroll for the first time or change their plan, including a prescription drug plan — Medicare Part D — or switch between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare. Health insurance is complicated and there are a lot of options. The Department of Human Services has five staff members and works with nearly 160 volunteers around the state to help people sort through them and avoid scams.
Through this year, most Medicare prescription plans have a “donut hole” or coverage gap for prescription drugs, but the Inflation Reduction Act, signed in 2022, closed the gap for Medicare policies starting in 2025. Also next year, Medicare plans will cap out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions at $2,000. The DHS specialists also can explain coverage for weight loss drugs, expanded family caregiver coverage and increased access to mental health services.
