Review Your Medicare Plan Now to Stay In-network With Samaritan in 2026 October 30, 2025 Each year, Medicare recipients can review and change their coverage during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This year, it’s especially important for patients who receive care through Samaritan Health Services to review their options. Samaritan Medicare Advantage Plans Are Changing Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, Samaritan Health Plans will no longer offer the following Samaritan Advantage plans – Premier, Premier Plus and Valor. The Dual Advantage, a D-SNP plan for those who have dual eligibility under Medicare and Medicaid, will still be available. How to Find In-network Plans Samaritan will continue to partner with several other Medicare Advantage plans in 2026. The affiliation with MultiCare does not change what health plans Samaritan will be in network with for 2026. Patients are encouraged to review which health plans include Samaritan Health Services in their network so they can continue receiving care from their Samaritan providers, clinics and hospitals. A list of insurance plans that contract with Samaritan can be found at samhealth.org/InsuranceBilling. Why Having an In-network Provider Matters Across Oregon and the country, hospitals and health systems are facing significant financial pressures. One challenge comes from providing care to patients with out-of-network insurance. When a patient’s insurance is not contracted with their health care provider, the cost of care is often higher for both the patient and the health system. Patients with out-of-network coverage can face unexpected bills because their insurance pays less, leaving them responsible for a larger share of the cost. At the same time, the lower payments from these plans make it difficult for health systems, like Samaritan, to sustain local services. To help ensure timely access to care and efficiently manage limited appointment availability, after first considering medical need, Samaritan may prioritize scheduling for non-emergency outpatient services for patients whose insurance plans are in-network. What Does This Mean? If your insurance is in-network with Samaritan, you will continue to have full access to outpatient services. If your insurance is out-of-network, you may experience limited availability for non-emergency outpatient appointments. Emergency care will always be provided, regardless of insurance status, and is protected under the federal No Surprises Act. What You Can Do Now Check your plan: Confirm whether your current Medicare Advantage or Supplement plan has Samaritan in-network for 2026. Compare costs and coverage: Review copays, coinsurance, deductibles and prescription coverage for next year. Get free help: Visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 800-MEDICARE. Contact Oregon’s Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program for one-on-one guidance at shiba.oregon.gov. Speak with a licensed local insurance agent. Choosing a plan that is in network with Samaritan Health Services helps ensure continued access to your trusted providers, clinics and hospitals — and helps us continue caring for our communities for years to come.
