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Oregon Health Insurance Companies
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Oregon Health Insurance Options
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How to Get the Most Savings
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Oregon Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Oregon
Oregon Health Insurance Companies
There are plenty of health insurance options offered by multiple insurers in Oregon. To help jumpstart your search, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular insurers in the state:
BridgeSpan
BridgeSpan Health offers individual and family health insurance policies on the health insurance exchanges in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
Individuals and families who choose BridgeSpan can select between Bronze, Silver, or Gold coverage tiers. High deductible health plan (HDHP) options are available in several Bronze and Silver tier plans. Additionally, BridgeSpan health insurance plans offer support for chronic diseases, a 24-hour nurse hotline, discounts on health-related goods and services (including hearing aids and gym memberships), and more.
Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest offers individual and family coverage for those who are self-employed, working for an employer without a group plan, have aged out of or are not covered by a parent’s plan, in-between jobs, waiting for an employer’s group coverage to start, part-time employees who aren’t eligible for group coverage, or early retirees.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Oregon
If you’re looking for health insurance in Oregon, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state in order to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Oregon who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Oregon’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP) or have a need for health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, or to not offer short-term plans at all. In Oregon, you can purchase a plan for up to 3 months, and if the plan you purchase has an initial term of less than 3 months, you can renew until you hit the 3-month mark. Once those 3 months are up, you can purchase another plan from a different carrier. If you want to get another short-term plan from the same insurer, you have to wait 60 days from the expiration of your original plan.
Oregon Health Insurance Options
When it comes to health insurance, there is no perfect plan. But knowing your options can help you make the best decision for you and your family without breaking the bank. A variety of resources are available for you to use while you make your choice.
You can speak to your employer and ask about what types of group insurance they might offer. While employers in Oregon are not required to offer health insurance to their employees, most do. Group insurance is a good option, because it is typically less expensive than an individual plan.
Government-funded programs are another option that is worth looking into, so check out the government’s related websites. Residents 65 and over, as well as adults of any age with certain disabilities, are eligible for affordable Medicare plans. Low-income families and individuals may qualify for free coverage through the Medicaid program. You must, though, fulfill a number of prerequisites to be eligible for these programs.
Your best resource, though, is an insurance agent. An EZ agent will assess all of your options and even check to see if you qualify for any assistance programs. They can locate reasonably priced insurance plans that have the coverage you require.
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How to Get the Most Savings
Among the 50 states, Oregon ranks 43rd in terms of per capita healthcare spending. This makes it one of the states with the most affordable healthcare! In Oregon, the average annual cost of healthcare is $9,625, but there are ways to lower your health insurance premiums.
One of the first things health insurance companies take into account is your health, especially your body mass index (BMI). Your premium could go up if your BMI is considered too high or even too low, so if you’re among the 29% of people in Oregon who are obese, know that maintaining a healthy BMI is a wise way to save money.
Tobacco use is another thing that insurance companies look at when determining your rates. In fact, a smoker’s premium could be up to 50% higher than those of a nonsmoker. If you’re among the 13% of people in Oregon who smoke, consider quitting! Doing so will not only improve your health and lower your healthcare costs overall but will also cut down on insurance costs – not to mention the money you’ll be saving on tobacco products!
But there’s an even easier way to save money: working with an insurance agent. An EZ agent will compare all of the plans in your price range and can help you find any local discounts you might be eligible for. The professionals at EZ could help you save hundreds a year on health insurance! Additionally, we never charge for any of our services.
Oregon Health Insurance FAQS
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Does Oregon require you to have health insurance?
As of 2019, there is no longer a federal tax penalty for not having health insurance. A few states do still require health insurance, but Oregon is not one of them.
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What is the cheapest health insurance in Oregon?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $318 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
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How much does health insurance cost in Oregon?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Oregon is $395, or $4,740 per year, with plans as low as $318 a month to as high as $1,122. If you meet certain criteria, you may even be eligible for free insurance.
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Which insurance companies offer plans in Oregon?
The top 6 insurers in Oregon are BridgeSpan, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, PacificSource, Providence, and Regence.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Oregon
There are numerous ways to enroll in a health insurance plan in Oregon. You can enroll through your employer if they offer a group plan or do your own independent search for coverage directly through a carrier. Oregon also takes advantage of the federal Health Insurance Marketplace, where you can browse and compare health insurance policies from participating insurers. Remember that not all of the state’s insurers are represented on the Marketplace, so you should work with an agent to see all of your options.
However, you’re thinking of enrolling, an EZ agent is here to help. We can guide you through the process and respond to any questions you may have. We will research the best plans for you, taking into account your age, health, and budget, and give you all of your options. We work with the top insurance companies in the country to give you the affordable coverage you need.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
