Cover Oregon: How to Apply  

Are you uninsured? Or do you purchase your own insurance? Unless you received a Fast Track invitation to enroll in the Oregon Health Plan (Oregon's Medicaid program), you need to apply for a health plan under Cover Oregon to avoid tax penalties in 2014.

Cover Oregon is Oregon's health insurance exchange. It's where you can shop for health insurance plans and access tax credits you may qualify for to help offset the cost of insurance. While Cover Oregon only accepts online applications from those using Internet Explorer, they are accepting paper applications. After you submit an application, Cover Oregon will send you your options, and you can pick the plan that is right for you. The tax credits are sent straight to the company you choose, lowering the amount you pay. If you qualify for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) but weren't included in the Fast Track, you will be enrolled in that at no cost.

In order to become enrolled by January 2014, you must get your application in before December 15. If you want to fill out the paperwork and submit it yourself, you can access the application at www.coveroregon.com/get-started/overview.

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Upcoming Free Medical Clinics

In November and December, a few free and low-cost medical clinics are available in the Portland metro area. Upcoming events include:

For Free Dental Care:

Mission of Mercy IV

Monday and Tuesday, November 25 and 26, 6am-6 pm, Doors open at 4 am

Location: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

Medical Teams International 

Medical Teams don't provide routine cleanings, crowns, dentures, bridge work, or root canals, but are a great resource if you don't have access to dental care.

Thursday, December 13

Location: All Saints Church, 4033 SE Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, OR 97202
Appointments: Call the church at 503-777-3829 at 9 am on Tuesday, December 11.

Sunday, December 16, 10 am-3 pm
Location: Under the west side of the Hawthorne Bridge 

Appointments: Patients will be selected based on priority, as well as on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thursday, December 20, Begins at 8 am
Location: St. Peter and Paul Episcopal Church, 8147 SE Pine Street, Portland, OR 97215 

Appointments: Sign-ups are the day of the clinic on a first-come, first-served basis.

Other:

If the resources above aren't what you were looking for, check out Coalition of Community Health Clinics, a nonprofit network of clinics in the Portland metro area, that offers a variety of useful health resources and information. Visit their site at  www.coalitionclinics.org/health-care-resources to:

• Search their database of free clinics
• Find free or low-cost dental, vision, and mental health services
• Read about health insurance information
• Learn about resources for LGBTQ and people of color

The Affordable Care Act: What You Need to Know  

Below, we've pulled together some quick facts on the Affordable Care Act. For more details, you can visit Cover Oregon's website,  HealthCare.gov, or read the AARP's coverage.   

Who qualifies?

• Young adults under the age of 26 can remain on their parent's healthcare plan.
• Insurance companies can no longer deny anyone health coverage because of a preexisting condition.
• Medicaid has been expanded to serve more people living on a limited income. For example, now as an individual you can qualify if you earn $15,900 or less or year, $32,500 for a family of four

When does everything start?

• Coverage through the health insurance marketplace will begin on January 1, 2014.
• Health insurance marketplace enrollment was scheduled to begin October 1, 2013. In Oregon, the insurance marketplace is known as Cover Oregon. While there are still limits to applying online, paper applications are available. Visit www.coveroregon.com to browse coverage plans and learn more about what Cover Oregon offers.

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Oregon Health Plan Expansion: Get on the Fast Track!

Did you receive a form in the mail from the Department of Human Services about enrolling in the "Fast Track" for the Oregon Health Plan? This means your household's income level makes you eligible for being enrolled in the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

The Oregon Health Plan is Oregon's Medicaid program, which seeks to provide health coverage for those who cannot afford insurance. Its expansion significantly increases the number of people who can enroll and expands the number of services offered. Mailing your fast-track enrollment form by December 15 means you will have coverage starting on January 1.

Did you lose your fast-track enrollment form? What if you are eligible but never received your fast-track enrollment form? You can call about the Oregon Health Plan at 1-800-699-9075, and if you were fast-track pre-approved, you can enroll over the phone. If you are not eligible for the Oregon Health Plan, you may be eligible for tax credits to help lower the cost of buying a plan through Cover Oregon. If you are not sure what you are qualified for, you can call Cover Oregon at 1-855-268-3767.

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