Providence Health Plan will not offer Medicare Advantage plans in 2027. If you are a Providence Medicare Advantage member in Oregon or Southwest Washington, your plan keeps working through December 31, 2026. Most members will need to choose new coverage for January 1, 2027; some will move to new coverage automatically, as explained below. This guide explains your dates, your options, and how to prepare.
Updated October 2026, based on Providence Health Plan announcements and Medicare.gov. The notice Providence mails you is the final word on your dates and rights. NW Senior Insurance Solutions is not affiliated with Providence.
The short version
- Nothing changes for the rest of 2026. Keep using your plan, doctors, and pharmacy as usual.
- Choosing new coverage between October 15 and December 7 avoids any gap on January 1.
- If you miss December 7, you can still choose a plan through the end of February 2027. Enroll by December 31 and your new coverage still starts January 1; enroll later and it starts later.
- For most members, doing nothing means Original Medicare without prescription drug coverage on January 1. There are exceptions, covered below.
- This is about the Providence insurance plan, not Providence hospitals and clinics.
Key dates for Providence Medicare Advantage members
| Dates | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Now through December 31, 2026 | Your Providence Medicare Advantage coverage continues. |
| October 15 to December 7, 2026 | Annual Open Enrollment. A new plan chosen in this window generally starts January 1, 2027. |
| December 8, 2026 to February 28, 2027 | A special enrollment period for members whose plan is not renewing. Enroll by December 31 for a January 1 start; in January for February 1; in February for March 1. |
| Up to 60 days before and 63 days after your plan ends | If you return to Original Medicare, you may have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without health questions. |
Source: Medicare.gov special enrollment periods.
Exceptions: Medicare and Oregon Health Plan members, Extra Help, and retiree coverage
- Members with both Medicare and Oregon Health Plan. CareOregon says some Providence members with both Medicare and Oregon Health Plan coverage will automatically move to a CareOregon plan on January 1, 2027. Your notice will tell you whether this applies to you. You can still choose a different plan during Annual Open Enrollment. CareOregon announcement.
- Extra Help with drug costs. Medicare generally assigns members with Extra Help to a stand-alone drug plan when their Medicare Advantage plan does not renew. You can still choose a different plan.
- Employer or union retiree coverage. If your Providence coverage comes through a former employer or union, follow your retiree plan’s instructions. Enrolling in an individual plan on your own can affect retiree benefits.
Your two paths for 2027
Choose another Medicare Advantage plan
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Most use provider networks, costs vary, and not every plan includes drug coverage. Before you enroll, confirm that your doctors, hospital, and pharmacy are in the plan’s 2027 network, and check how your prescriptions are covered.
Return to Original Medicare and add drug coverage
Original Medicare lets you see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. You would join a separate Part D prescription drug plan. Many people also add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to help with deductibles and coinsurance.
Because Providence is leaving Medicare Advantage, you may be able to buy certain Medigap policies without answering health questions. That right has a deadline, and the policies available depend on when you first became eligible for Medicare. If this path interests you, talk with us early. Read about Medigap rights at Medicare.gov.
If you have a Providence Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies are a separate product from Medicare Advantage. Providence says coverage for current Medicare Supplement members remains in effect at this time and that members will receive individual notice well in advance of any changes for 2027.
Oregon and Washington each have their own Medigap rules. Oregon’s birthday rule and Washington’s Medigap switching rules may give you options later, whatever Providence decides. See our Oregon Medicare guide and our article on switching Medigap plans in Washington.
What about my Providence doctors and hospitals?
Providence’s insurance plan and its hospitals and clinics are separate. The plan ending does not, by itself, change where you can get care at Providence St. Vincent, Providence Portland, Providence Willamette Falls, Providence Newberg, Providence Hood River Memorial, or other locations. The question for 2027 is which plans include the specific doctors and hospitals you use.
Some other Medicare Advantage plans have also announced network changes involving Providence facilities for 2027. Even if you are not a Providence plan member, if you see Providence doctors, confirm your network before December 7.
When you check, ask about each doctor by name and the hospital they use. Call the clinic’s billing office and ask which Medicare plans they will be in network with for 2027, then confirm in the plan’s own 2027 provider directory. Our step-by-step doctor check walks through it. In Clark County, use our Clark County doctor check.
What to bring to your plan review
- A list of your doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals
- Your prescriptions, with doses, and the pharmacy you use
- Any letters you have received from Providence
- Your Medicare card
- Details of any other coverage, such as VA, TRICARE, or retiree benefits
Be careful with unexpected calls
Plan changes attract scammers. Medicare rules generally prohibit agents from making unsolicited sales calls, and Medicare will never call you to sell a plan. Never give your Medicare number to someone who calls you unexpectedly. If you are unsure, hang up and call the number on your card or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
How our family team can help
Karen, Sean, and Carly help Medicare members across Oregon and Southwest Washington, including Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Hood River, Lane, and Clark counties. We will review your doctors and prescriptions against the 2027 plans we represent, explain the differences in plain language, and help you enroll. There is no cost for our help.
Call us at (360) 326-0850 or send us a message to set up a review by phone, video, or in person.
Have questions about how this applies to you?
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