Cover Oregon hosts application fair in Portland
Open enrollment is beginning for 240,000 Oregonians who buy their own plan and are not on Medicare. In this November 2013 file photo, insurance agent Charity Kuahiwinui, helped a family through the application process.
(Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian)
The once-a-year open enrollment period has begun for the more than 240,000 Oregonians who buy their own health coverage and are not on Medicare.
Officials and insurance agents encourage consumers to start shopping now for next year's policy, as enrollment ends Jan. 31 - earlier than last year. If you want to have your new policy in place for the new year, you'll need to enroll in December - or by December 15 if you use the federal health insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov.
Health coverage is mandatory for many people, and the tax time penalty for not having it continues to go up. Next year it bumps to $695, or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater.
Consumers who fit certain
are encouraged to use HealthCare.gov to qualify for subsidies or tax credits. State officials say approximately 107,000 Oregonians enrolled through HealthCare.gov last year, and more than 77,000 received a premium tax credit averaging nearly $200 per month.
But plans can also be purchased direct from carriers or by using an insurance agent free of charge. For those who do not qualify for subsidies or tax credits, there are additional plans - often superior or cheaper - that can be purchased outside the exchange. You can locate them using shopping sites like this one.
Rates are going up next year for the vast majority of Oregonians who buy their own polices on the individual market. So state officials urge people to shop around, noting that the average consumer saved $400 by switching plans last year. Most consumers will be re-enrolled in their same plan if they do not act by Dec. 15, officials say.
"Even if you already have insurance, take some time during open enrollment to look at all of your options through the marketplace," said Patrick Allen, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), in a prepared statement. "Prices and plans - as well as your health needs - may have changed considerably. You also may qualify for financial help."
The Oregonian/OregonLive will be publishing articles online later this week with more advice for consumers. The stories also will be included in the newspaper's Business section on Sunday.
In the meantime, here are some resources:
- To see if you qualify for the Oregon Health Plan or other programs,
- How to
- The state's cost-sharing tool with details of how different plans shake out
- To find an insurance agent who can help you free of charge, or a storefront enrollment assistance center near you,
-- Nick Budnick
nbudnick@oregonian.com
503-294-5083
@nickbudnick