2026 Medicare Choices
Your Providence Medicare Advantage plan won’t be available in 20261.
Here’s how to make sure you have the Medicare coverage you need:
Get help from an insurance agent
- Call your agent: If you have an agent, call them for help choosing a new plan.
- Find an agent: If you don’t have an agent, find one near you here.
Explore plans near you
- Visit medicare.gov: Go to this website to see all the plans you can choose from.
Important dates
Remember these deadlines to make sure you get the coverage you need.
| Enrollment Period | Start Date | End Date | Coverage Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment Period | Oct. 1 | Dec. 7 |
Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Special Enrollment Period2 | Dec. 8 | Feb. 28 |
|
2If you don’t sign up for a new plan by Dec. 31, 2025, you’ll automatically be switched to Original Medicare starting Jan. 1, 2026. You can change your mind during the
special election period if you decide you want a different plan.
What happens if I don’t choose a new plan?
If you don’t choose a new plan by December 31, 2025, you’ll automatically be moved to Original Medicare starting January 1, 2026.
What’s the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage?
Original Medicare covers basic health insurance for hospital (Part A) and medical needs (Part B). It doesn’t include extras that Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) may offer, such as dental care, vision, hearing, gym membership, or prescription drug coverage (Part D).
| Original Medicare (Parts A & B) |
Medicare Advantage3 (Part C) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it | Federal government | Private insurance companies |
| What’s covered | Hospital insurance (Part A) and medical Insurance (Part B) for things like doctor visits, tests and preventive care | Same as Original Medicare (Part A and B) |
| Prescription drugs (Part D) | Not included, must sign up for a separate Medicare Part D plan.4 | Usually included |
| Dental, Vision, Hearing | Not included | Most plans cover routine care for dental, vision and hearing |
| Additional benefits | Not included | May offer extras like gym memberships, telehealth, transportation, meal delivery and more |
| Doctors and Provider network | You can visit any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare | You usually must use doctors in the plan’s network |
| Out-of-pocket costs | No limit on what you pay out-of-pocket | Has a yearly maximum out-of-pocket limit on the amount you pay each year |
3You must have Parts A and B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
4If you don’t sign up for a separate prescription drug (Part D) plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, you may have to pay penalties. Learn more here.
Need more help?
- Learn more: Find out more about your Medicare options and compare plans.
- Still have questions? Call our customer service at 866-356-6654.
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific Time), 7 days a week. From April 1 to September 30 weekend hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1The information on this page applies to Providence Medicare Advantage members who are on plans that will no longer be offered in 2026 (coverage ends 12/31/25). This includes members on the Providence Bridge + Rx (HMO-POS), Providence Medicare Choice + Rx (HMO-POS) and Providence Medicare Cottonwood + Rx (HMO-POS) plans and individual Medicare Advantage plan members who reside in Benton, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Linn, Marion, Polk, and Wheeler counties in Oregon.