Oregon health officials have been working on reinstated eligibility checks for the 1.4 million individuals covered by the Oregon Health Plan. As of now, 82.5% of those checked have been renewed, and efforts are being made to reach out to the remaining members of the program. This program offers free care to low-income individuals using state and federal Medicaid funds.
During the pandemic, Medicaid eligibility checks were paused due to a federal rule, but last April, Oregon resumed the checks and has already disenrolled about 230,000 people. The state has been successful in keeping people covered, in part due to a new program called “OHP Bridge” which provides coverage to the working poor who do not meet Medicaid eligibility standards.
For those seeking renewal notices or assistance with new coverage, the state advises checking their mail for renewal notices as well as their online benefits account. Assistance can also be obtained by calling the ONE Customer Service Center, visiting a local Oregon Department of Human Services office, or seeking help from a community partner.
If an individual’s OHP coverage is ending, they are advised to review the case summary in their letter, explore options through an employer, or consider signing up for Medicare if eligible. Additionally, nearly 80% of Oregonians qualify for financial help through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace.
This information was originally published by The Lund Report, an independent nonprofit health news organization in Oregon. For further inquiries, contact Nick Budnick at nick@thelundreport.org.
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