Correction, September 4, 2025 9:24 am: This story was updated with a new accompanying photo. A previous version of this story incorrectly featured an image of a hospital not operated by Samaritan. Philomath News regrets the error.
Samaritan Health Plans has notified thousands of its Medicare customers in Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties that it will end its popular Advantage insurance plans at the end of the year.
In a letter received by its Advantage clients over the Labor Day weekend, Samaritan did not divulge its reasons for the change.
But in an emailed statement Wednesday to Lincoln Chronicle, Samaritan Health Plans chief executive officer Bruce Butler said the organization “has not been immune to nationwide challenges in health care.”
“As part of an integrated health system serving the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast, we are evaluating multiple options to ensure sustainability for the long term,” Butler’s said in the statement. “Meanwhile, we are pleased to continue to provide health coverage for our members in the Medicare, Medicaid and commercial group lines of business.”
The hospital system had been advised by a consultant last spring to find buyers or partners for its two largest health plans — a Medicare Advantage plan known as Samaritan Advantage, and its Medicaid plan and its community care organization, InterCommunity Health Plan. But a Samaritan official told the Lund Report this summer that Samaritan doesn’t intend to divest itself of its health plans division.
The official’s statement to the Lund Report said the organization is “constantly analyzing” the plans it offers and could not comment until Oct. 1 under the rules of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
And that’s what causing some consternation to thousands who received Samaritan’s letter the last few days.
Samaritan said it has 13,881 Medicare Advantage members in Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties.
Under the strict federal rules, Oct. 1 is the first date when county-by-county insurance plans are made public and when Medicare, insurance companies, health systems and insurance agents can talk about them.
In 2025 two organizations — Samaritan Health and Devoted Health — offered three types each of Medicare Advantage plans in Lincoln County. Costs ranged from nothing to $138 a month, depending on the plan’s level of coverage. But if you live in Benton County, for example, there were 10 types of Advantage plans available in 2025.
Samaritan’s Advantage plans were popular because it also included some vision and dental coverage and offered a benefits card that accumulated funds to help pay for some out-of-pocket medical costs and some over-the-counter purchases.
Insurance providers are required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to notify policyholders in September about changes or discontinuation of their plan.
Samaritan had apparently told medical providers two months ago, causing word to leak out about the upcoming change, and Advantage insurance customers received their official notification letters over the Labor Day holiday.
While federal rules restrict what they can say this month, Samaritan and an insurance agent with offices in four coastal counties said there will be offerings to replace Samaritan’s plans.
“We’re very limited in what we can say,” said Wendy Abel-Hatzel, owner of Abel Insurance that has offices stretching from Newport to Gold Beach. “But there will be a full range of options of coverage.”
Abel-Hatzel said she was thankful that Samaritan sent their notices at the first of the month to give people time to think about what they might do and to schedule appointments with Medicare advisers or agents in October.
She advised Advantage policyholders to stay calm, make an appointment, and know that there will be options available. Those options become public Oct. 1 and people can sign up for new or revised policies between Oct. 15 and Dec. 31.
Abel-Hatzel and Samaritan’s letter also emphasized that because the Advantage plan was being discontinued, those customers have until as late as Feb. 28 to enroll in a new plan.
Samaritan also advised people shopping for a Medicare plan to visit www.Medicare.gov or refer to the Medicare & You handbook for a list of Medicare health and prescription drug plans in the area. People can also contact a no-cost program called Senior Health Insurance Benefit Assistance Program (SHIBA) at 800-722-4134 or at Shiba.oregon.gov.
And both advised people who got Samaritan’s letter to hold onto it because it is proof that “you have a special right to buy a Medigap policy or join a Medicare plan.”
“It’s your golden Willy Wonka ticket,” Abel-Hatzel said. “Keep it.”
Medigap plans do not have dental, optical, or any extras. They just cover what Medicare doesn’t pay for. What ever procedure you need, has to be one that Medicare already covers.
Medigap G is expensive. I know, because I have Medigap G. There is no guarantee you will qualify for a Medigap plan, especially G. They have underwriters. I have had it for years, which is why I still qualify. If I dropped it, I would not be able to get Plan G back due to my health.
Do your research. I got Medigap when I was informed no Advantage plan, including Samaritan, or other medical plans would cover my treatment. Start with your car insurance company. Surprisingly, a lot offer some kind of Medigap. I get mine through State Farm.
Samaritan Advantage also provided rides to it’s members to a point. What are those people to do now that don’t have transportation?
It comes down to greed.