Oregon To Be The First State to Offer a Basic Health Program Without out-of-pocket Costs for Residents
Oregon has recently announced an expansion of its free health care coverage, allowing more people in various income categories to benefit from the new Oregon Health Plan program, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Over 100,000 residents of Oregon are projected to be eligible for the upcoming Oregon Health Plan Bridge program, making Oregon the third state in the country to implement a Basic Health Program.
“The new OHP Bridge program continues Oregon’s long history of leading the nation in efforts to make health coverage accessible to everyone in Oregon,” said OHA Director Sejal Hathi. “It also advances our strategic plan to eliminate health inequities by 2030, by helping to expand access to affordable care for all and honoring our government-to-government relationship with the Tribes.”
The OHP Bridge is named after its mission to connect individuals who have health coverage under the traditional Oregon Health Plan with those who have marketplace coverage, bridging the gap between the two.
The program will provide comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, and behavioral health care, with no expenses for members. This means no premiums, co-payments, coinsurance, or deductibles. OHA has announced that Oregon will be the first state to offer a Basic Health Program with no out-of-pocket costs for its members.
OHA has identified certain areas that are not covered by OHP Bridge but are covered by other Medicaid programs as reported by KOIN News.
As an illustration, the OHP Bridge program does not include coverage for Long Term Services and Supports that assist with daily tasks, nor does it cover Oregon’s new Health-Related Social Needs benefit, which addresses certain climate, housing, and food needs.
According to OHA, the new program has been introduced to address the issue of many adults in Oregon who were left uninsured before the COVID-19 pandemic, despite having an income just above the traditional Medicaid limits.
Oregonians who meet certain criteria may be eligible for coverage. This includes individuals aged 19 to 64 with an income ranging from 138% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Additionally, they must have a qualifying citizenship or immigration status and lack access to other affordable health insurance options.
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