Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Here are resources to help you evaluate plans.

ONLINE

Visit Medicare.gov. Its Plan Finder allows you to compare a wide range of costs across multiple drug and Medicare Advantage plans available in your county. It also has ratings on each plan's performance and quality. Most important, it allows you to enter your prescription drugs to find out whether they're covered and at what cost across various plans.

Check the Medicare Rights Center's Medicare Interactive site to help you find answers about Medicare benefits.

Read The Oregonian/OregonLive's past coverage on picking a Medicare plan.

BY PHONE

In Oregon, volunteers from the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance program can answer questions by phone 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 800-722-4134 or visit healthcare.oregon.gov/shiba.

Call Medicare itself at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

In Washington state, call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors at 800-562-6900 or visit bit.ly/2P3QES0.

Call the nonprofit Medicare Rights Center's national helpline at 800-333-4114, Monday through Friday.

IN PERSON

Health insurance brokers are often knowledgeable about choices and can help you choose and purchase a plan. It's best to deal with a licensed broker, who sells plans from several different insurance companies.

Check their license online or call the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation's insurance help line at 1-888-877-4894.

Volunteers with SHIBA also offer free counseling. Find a workshops in Oregon or in Washington state.

Here's a list of free counseling resources in the Portland area provided by impartial volunteers and trained SHIBA staff:

CLACKAMAS COUNTY

Clackamas County residents can call 503-655-8269, option 4, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, to schedule an appointment. You can also attend one of the following presentations and individual counseling workshops:

Canby: Oct. 17, 1 to 2 p.m., Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy St., 503-266-2970. Individual counseling: 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Canby: Nov. 7, individual counseling, 1 to 4 p.m., Canby Adult Center, 1250 S. Ivy St., 503-266-2970

Estacada: Oct. 24, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Estacada Community Center, 200 S.W. Clubhouse Dr., 503-630-7454. Individual counseling: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Gladstone: Nov. 13, 1 to 2 p.m., Gladstone Senior Center, 1050 Portland Ave. 503-655-7701. Individual counseling: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Lake Oswego: Oct. 23, 1 to 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., Lake Oswego Adult Community Center, 505 G Ave., 503-635-3758. Individual counseling: 2 to 4 p.m.

Lake Oswego: Oct. 30, individual counseling, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Lake Oswego Community Adult Center, 505 G Ave., 503-635-3758.

Milwaukie: Oct. 16, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Dr., 503-653-8100. Individual counseling: noon to 3:30 p.m.

Milwaukie: Nov. 19, individual counseling, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Milwaukie Center, 5440 S.E. Kellogg Creek Dr., 503-653-8100.

Molalla: Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to noon, Molalla Adult Community Center, 315 Kennel St., 503-829-4214. Individual counseling: 12:15 to 3:15 p.m.

Oregon City: Oct. 8, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St., 503-657-8287.

Oregon City: Oct. 14, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, 710 Sixth St., 503-656-7296.

Oregon City: Nov. 14, individual counseling, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pioneer Community Center, 615 Fifth St., 503-657-8287.

Sandy: Oct. 22, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Sandy Senior Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd., 503-668-5569. Individual counseling: 2 to 4 p.m.

Sandy: Nov. 5, individual counseling, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sandy Senior Center, 38348 Pioneer Blvd., 503-668-5569.

Welches: Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Hoodland Senior Center, 65000 E. Highway 26, 503-622-3331. Individual counseling: 1 to 3 p.m.

West Linn: Nov. 1, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., West Linn Adult Community Center, 1180 Rosemont Road, 503-557-4704. Individual counseling noon: to 3 p.m.

Wilsonville: Oct. 17, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Wilsonville Parks and Recreation Administration Center, 29600 Park Place, 503-682-3727. Individual counseling: noon to 2 p.m.

MULTNOMAH COUNTY

Multnomah County residents can call 503-988-3646 during normal business hours and ask to make an appointment for one-on-one counseling with a trained SHIBA volunteer at the following locations and dates:

Asian Health and Service Center: Dec. 5, 9035 S.E. Foster Rd.

Hillsdale Library: Oct. 27, 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd.

Hollywood Library: Oct. 29, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, Nov. 30, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St.

Midland Library: Oct. 26, Nov. 2, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, 805 S.E. 122nd Ave.

From Oct. 15 to Nov. 7, county residents can call to schedule appointments for individual counseling and enrollment sessions at regularly scheduled sites in Portland and Gresham (ask for a "SHIBA appointment"):

Charles Jordan Community Center: Every second and fourth Friday, 9009 N. Foss Ave., 503-288-8303.

East County YWCA: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 600 N.E. 8th St., Gresham. 503-721-6771.

Friendly House: Every second and fourth Thursday, 1737 N.W. 26th Ave., 503-224-2640.

Hillsdale Library: Thursdays, 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd., 503-988-3646.

Hollywood Senior Center: Every first and third Wednesday, 1820 N.E. 40th Ave., 503-288-8303.

IRCO Cherry Blossom Senior Program Office: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 740 S.E. 106th Ave., 503-484-6371.

Multicultural Senior Center (Urban League): Wednesdays, 5325 N.E. MLK Jr. Blvd., 503-280-2600, ext. 632.

Multnomah County Lincoln Building: Fridays, 421 S.W. Oak, first floor, 503-988-3646.

Neighborhood House Senior Center: Thursdays, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy., 503-244-5204.

Multicultural Service Center: Mondays, 4610 S.E. Belmont St., 503-721-6760.

County residents can also attend free educational seminars on the basics of Medicare at Mt. Hood Community College on Oct. 18 and Nov. 29, 26000 S.E. Stark St., Gresham, 7 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. Register by calling 503-491-7572 or on the college's website.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Washington County residents can get individual counseling and enrollment help from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 at the following sites. Call 503-846-3094 to schedule an appointment:

Beaverton: Thursdays, noon to 3 p.m., Elsie Stuhr Center, 5550 S.W. Hall Blvd.

Forest Grove: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Forest Grove Senior Center, 2037 Douglas St.

Hillsboro: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Washington County Disability, Aging and Veteran Services Office, 5240 N.E. Elam Young Pkwy., Suite 300.

Hillsboro: Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m., Hillsboro Senior Center, 750 S.E. Eighth Ave. Walk-ins accepted.

Sherwood: Thursdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Marjorie Stewart Senior Community Center, 21907 S.W. Sherwood Blvd.

Tigard: Wednesdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Tigard Senior Center, 8815 S.W. O'Mara St.

Tualatin: Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m., Juanita Pohl Center, 8513 S.W. Tualatin Road.

Brent Hunsberger is an investment adviser representative in Portland. For important disclosures and information about Brent, visit bit.ly/2dwmN7w. Reach him at OregonianMedicare@gmail.com or leave a message at 503-683-3098.