March 2026 Health Insurance Updates: What to Know Now | | |
Greetings Laughlin Insurance Customers and Referral Partners
As we move through the first part of 2026 and into tax season, now is an important time to take a closer look at your health coverage and make sure everything is working the way you expect. Changes across the Marketplace, Medicare, and employer plans can impact your costs, benefits, and eligibility for financial assistance—often more than people realize.
In this month’s update, we’ve outlined the most important changes and trends we’re seeing across Oregon and Washington, along with practical insights to help you avoid surprises and stay ahead of your coverage needs.
At Laughlin Insurance, our role is to monitor these changes for you and help you make informed, confident decisions throughout the year—not just during open enrollment. If you ever have questions or want to review your coverage, we’re always here to help.
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Open Enrollment Has Ended - Here’s What to Know Next
With both the Individual Marketplace Open Enrollment and Medicare Annual Election Period now behind us, most coverage for 2026 is officially in place. If you enrolled, now is a great time to review your plan details and make sure everything is working the way you expect.
If you missed Open Enrollment, you may still have options. Certain life events—such as moving, losing other coverage, or changes in household size or income—can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, we’re happy to help you explore your options.
For those already enrolled in a Medicare plan, this is also a good time to confirm your providers, prescriptions, and benefits are aligned with your needs for the year. And for Marketplace clients, reviewing your premium, tax credits, and coverage early in the year can help avoid surprises later on.
If you would like assistance reviewing your current plan, understanding your benefits, or exploring any available changes, our team is here to help. Please feel free to call our office at (503) 282-0827 at anytime to schedule a time with your agent.
Below are some updates for the Individual Marketplace, Medicare, and Employer markets, followed by other topics, that we hope will be of interest to you.
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Marketplace Updates for 2026 - What to Know Now
As we move into the 2026 plan year, here are the key Marketplace updates that may impact your coverage and costs:
Higher Out-of-Pocket Limits
$10,600 (individual) and $21,200 (family)
Minimum Premium Changes
Some $0 plans may now renew with a small monthly premium (as low as $5) if eligibility wasn’t actively confirmed
Fewer Automatic Plan Adjustments
Plans now generally renew with the new year version of your current plan, even if better options were available—making annual reviews more important
Stricter Documentation Requirements
You may be asked to verify income or qualifying life events during the year
Limited Special Enrollment Opportunities
Year-round enrollment options for lower-income individuals have been reduced
HSA Update for 2026
More plans may now be HSA-eligible, including some Bronze options. HSAs can help lower taxable income and cover medical expenses tax-free—especially helpful if subsidy changes impact your premiums.
Don’t Forget: 1095 Forms & Tax Reconciliation
Marketplace members will receive Form 1095-A for tax filing. Be sure to reconcile your tax credits to avoid losing financial assistance in future years.
Project Access Now
Financial assistance may still be available through Project Access Now for qualifying individuals. Space is limited—contact us to check your eligibility.
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Medicare Update for 2026 - What to Know Now
Several Medicare Advantage plans have exited certain Oregon counties for 2026, which has led to changes in coverage for some beneficiaries. If your plan was affected—or if you simply want to better understand your current coverage—we’re here to help.
Plan Changes & Local Updates
- Some Medicare Advantage plans are no longer available in parts of Oregon
- New plan options have been introduced in select areas, including Tillamook County
- Many Medicare Advantage plans continue to offer stable premiums, manageable out-of-pocket costs, and added benefits like dental, vision, and hearing
Medicare Part B Premiums and Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)
- Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, doctor visits, and preventive services. Most beneficiaries pay a standard monthly premium, but higher-income individuals may pay more due to IRMAA.
- IRMAA is based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) income from two years prior and can significantly increase your monthly costs. If you’re approaching Medicare—or already enrolled—it’s important to understand your premium level.
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You can view Medicare Part B and IRMAA premiums HERE.
Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage
If your coverage changed for 2026—or if you’re considering your options for the future—it may be a good time to revisit how these plans compare:
Medicare Advantage (MAPD):
- Lower premiums, bundled coverage, and extra benefits—but may include network restrictions and prior authorizations
Medicare Supplement (Medigap):
- Higher premiums, but greater flexibility, predictable costs, and broad provider access nationwide
- (Prescription drug coverage is purchased separately)
Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)
If you have a Medicare Supplement plan—or if your medication needs have changed—it’s still important to understand how your current Part D plan is structured. There are multiple options available, and reviewing your coverage annually can help avoid unnecessary costs.
If you are approaching Medicare eligibility, would like help reviewing your current Medicare coverage, understanding your costs, or planning ahead, give us a call at (503) 282-0827. Please complete a Scope of Appointment form for your agent so we can discuss your options in detail and provide plan-specific recommendations.
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Employer Benefits and Compliance
Employer-sponsored benefits continue to be one of the most effective ways to support employees and stay competitive. In addition to health insurance, many employers also offer dental, life, disability, and Paid Leave programs. We represent most major carriers in Oregon and Washington and are seeing some rate saving opportunities in the small group market. However, there are still several ways to manage costs, including plan design adjustments, contribution strategies, and network options. We recommend reviewing your benefits annually to ensure your program is aligned with your goals, budget, and employee needs.
Employer Compliance
Employers offering benefits are responsible for maintaining required documentation and providing employee disclosures under various regulations. While many businesses are compliant, others may be at risk for non-compliance.
Affordable compliance solutions are commercially available, and it’s important for employers to understand their responsibilities—even when working with payroll or benefits administrators. Contact us if you’d like help reviewing your compliance status.
Affordability & Marketplace Eligibility
For 2026, employer coverage is considered “affordable” if the employee’s share of the lowest-cost plan is less than 9.96% of household income. If coverage exceeds this threshold, employees (and potentially dependents) may qualify for financial assistance through the Marketplace. If you’re unsure whether your plan meets affordability guidelines, we can help you evaluate your options.
Employer Health Plan Affordability Calculator
Simplified Online Administration
Most insurance carriers offer online portals for adding or removing employees and managing benefits. As your agent, we can assist with these systems and help streamline your administrative processes.
ICHRAs: A Growing Alternative
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) allow employers to provide tax-free contributions for employees to purchase their own health insurance. This model continues to grow in popularity—especially among small businesses—and can be a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional group plans. Reach out if you’d like to explore whether an ICHRA could work for your business.
Paid Leave Oregon Updates
Paid Leave Oregon provides employees with paid time off for qualifying life events related to health, family, and safety. Updates to eligibility and benefits are in effect for 2026. You can review the latest rules and updates through the state resources below:
If you’d like help reviewing your employee benefits, managing costs, or ensuring compliance, our team is here to support you.
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Life and Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Life insurance is one of the simplest ways to protect the people who depend on you financially. It can help cover expenses like debts, income replacement, childcare, college costs, and other long-term financial needs.
Policies are available for individuals, and many employers also offer group life insurance options. In most cases, benefits are paid tax-free to your beneficiaries.
We offer both individual and group life insurance from a variety of carriers and are here to help you find coverage that fits your needs and goals.
Request a Life Insurance Quote
Disability Insurance
Disability insurance helps protect your income if you become too sick or injured to work. For many people, their ability to earn an income is their most valuable financial asset—and this coverage helps safeguard it.
Plans are available for individuals, and employers can also offer group disability coverage for employees or business partners.
We offer a range of options from multiple carriers and are here to help you find the right level of protection for your situation. Read More
Complete the Disability Quote Questionnaire for your Agent on our website and we will follow up with a quote.
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We Launched a New Website
We’re excited to share the launch of our newly updated website:
https://www.laughlinagency.com/
The new site is designed to help you better connect with our agency and access helpful information and resources throughout the year.
Be sure to check out our Resources section, where you can find:
- Information on how to apply for financial assistance
- Guidance on preventive care, telehealth services, and more
You can also visit the Carriers section for:
- Direct access to insurance carrier websites
- Plan and provider information
And in our Forms & Documents section, you’ll find important forms that we may ask you to complete at various times throughout the year—making it easy to access and submit what you need quickly.
Take a look and let us know what you think—we’d love your feedback!
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Tools We Use To Help Clients
WiredEnroll is our online quoting and enrollment platform for small employer group health and dental plans. It allows us to provide real-time plan options from multiple carriers and complete enrollments electronically for business owners and their employees. If you have 50 or fewer employees and would like a comparison of available health insurance options, we can quickly provide rates and plan details tailored to your business.
HealthSherpa is our online comparison and enrollment tool for individual health and dental plans in Oregon. It allows us to review plans in your area, check provider networks, estimate prescription costs, and apply any available premium tax credits. We can also complete your enrollment electronically with you over the phone—making the process simple and efficient. You can shop and compare HERE.
HealthSherpa Medicare is our online comparison tool for Medicare plans in Oregon. This tool allow us to review Medicare plans in your area, check to see what plans your providers contract with, estimate pharmacy costs, and more.
Washington Health Plan Finder is the online health insurance marketplace that we use to help those in Washington, to compare individual health and dental plans, and enroll in you the plans you choose, with the advanced tax credit, if you qualify. Browse & Compare plans HERE.
Employer Benefits Programs Custom Web Sites
We now offer custom, password-protected benefit websites for our employer clients. These dedicated pages serve as a central hub for employees to access important information throughout the year. Each custom web page can include benefit summaries, enrollment forms, contribution details, required notices, provider search links, and more.
If you’re a current employer client, be sure to share your company’s benefits page with your employees. We keep these pages updated as needed and at each renewal.
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Connect with Laughlin Insurance
Paris Laughlin, President, Agent
paris@laughlinagency.com
(503) 282-0827 Office
(503) 936-0891 Mobile
Stuart Ouellette, Agent
stuart@laughlinagency.com
(503) 282-0827 Office
(503) 730-9022 Mobile
Rachel Laughlin, Corporate Secretary, Agent
rachel@laughlinagency.com
(503) 282-0827 Office
(971) 269-6004 Mobile
Katie Hernandez, Group Account Manager, Agent
katie@laughlinagency.com
(503) 282-0827 Office
(503) 577-8188 Mobile
Sarah Selix, Office Assistant and Scheduling
sarah@laughlinagency.com
(503) 282-0827 Officeovided herein.
| Laughlin Insurance Market Report is a periodic publication featuring the latest news of interest to employer, individual, and Medicare health insurance consumers throughout Oregon and Washington. Laughlin Insurance - Since 1997 | | | | |
