Medicare 2026

Medicare Questions in Forest Grove? Where to Get Local Help

FOREST GROVE, Ore. — If you're turning 65, helping a parent sort through mail, or just trying to understand how Medicare works, you don't have to figure it out alone. Forest Grove residents have access to free, unbiased counseling through Oregon's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — plus licensed local agents who can walk you through your options.

Getting Straight Answers About Medicare in Forest Grove

Here's a plain-language guide to who does what, and how to reach the right kind of help for your situation.

Start With SHIBA — Oregon's Free SHIP Counselors

In Oregon, the SHIP program is called SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance). SHIBA counselors are trained and certified volunteers who work through the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. They do not sell insurance and they don't earn commissions.

That independence is the point. A SHIBA counselor can:

• Explain the difference between Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D.
• Help you compare drug plans on Medicare.gov using your own prescription list.
• Review a notice or bill you don't understand.
• Screen you for programs that help pay Medicare costs, like Extra Help or the Medicare Savings Programs.
• Answer questions about enrollment deadlines and late penalties.

To reach SHIBA, call 1-800-722-4134 or visit shiba.oregon.gov to find a counselor near Forest Grove. Washington County residents are often served through partner agencies and senior centers in the west metro area, including options in Hillsboro and Beaverton.

When a Licensed Agent Makes Sense

Licensed insurance agents and brokers play a different role. They're appointed by specific insurance companies and are paid a commission when you enroll in a plan they represent. That's not a bad thing — a good local agent can be a real help — but it's important to understand the difference from SHIBA.

A licensed agent can:

• Present plans from the carriers they're contracted with.
• Enroll you in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
• Help with annual reviews during the Annual Enrollment Period.

Before you meet with an agent, it helps to know a few things:

• Ask how many carriers they represent. More carriers usually means a broader comparison.
• Ask if they'll show you Original Medicare plus a Medigap option, not only Medicare Advantage.
• Bring your Medicare card, your list of medications, and a list of your doctors.

What's Actually Available Around Forest Grove

Forest Grove is in Washington County, where the 2026 Medicare landscape from CMS showed 59 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 13 carriers. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Oregon has 10 stand-alone Part D plans for 2026, sold statewide, so if you're on Original Medicare and want drug coverage, that's a good question to bring to SHIBA or an agent.

Washington County is home to more than 89,000 residents age 65 and older, so the demand for good guidance is real — and so is the volume of mail and TV ads you'll see each fall.

A Few Program Numbers Worth Knowing

Whether you talk to SHIBA or an agent, these program-level facts apply to everyone on Medicare:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug spending hits that amount, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D maximum deductible: $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027 (plans can set a lower one).
• The coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges on Part B and Part D start above $109,000 in income for a single filer in 2026.

Key Dates to Circle

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (and add a Part D plan).

If you miss a deadline, call SHIBA before assuming you're stuck — there are Special Enrollment Periods for situations like moving, losing employer coverage, or qualifying for Extra Help.