Oct. 24, 2024
In this update:
 
OregonHealthCare.gov launches enhanced Window Shopping Tool for 2025 plans
Open enrollment starts on November 1. In advance of this, the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace has released its Window Shopping tool for the 2025 plan year. This tool is designed to make exploring health coverage options easier than ever. Oregonians can compare plans, estimate savings, and find out if they qualify for financial assistance or an Oregon Health Plan benefit, including OHP Bridge. New features include detailed coverage info on gender-affirming care, and the tool is available in both Spanish and English.
Read more about the update in English or Spanish.
Try online options during open enrollment
Open enrollment for private health insurance through the Marketplace runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. During this time, the ONE Customer Service Center will likely see an increase in call volume as more people seek assistance with their health coverage.
We understand that navigating health care and benefits can be stressful, and we are promoting all the ways people can connect with us for support with their medical, food, cash, and child care benefits. Go to benefits.oregon.gov to see all options for contacting us.
- People can create ONE Online accounts to apply for and manage their medical, food, cash and child care benefits at any time.
- The Oregon ONE Mobile app also offers a safe and supportive way for individuals who have applied for benefits to manage their benefits, wherever and whenever they feel most comfortable. The free Oregon ONE Mobile app is available in English and Spanish on Apple and Android app.
Medicare open enrollment: what you need to know
Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7. This is a crucial time for people in Oregon to review and adjust their Medicare health coverage for the following calendar year.
During the open enrollment period, Medicare recipients can:
- Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
- Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
- Join, switch or drop a Medicare drug plan (Part D).
This year, Medicare open enrollment is even more important as many people face changes in their Oregon Health Plan (OHP/Medicaid) coverage due to the end of the federal public health emergency. After losing OHP, people on Medicare should consider their plan choices, such as a Medicare Advantage plan, Medigap policy, or Part D prescription drug coverage.
We are committed to making sure people in Oregon get the benefits and help they need.
On Oct. 9, 2024, the Oregon Secretary of State Audit Division released its report about Oregon’s ONE Eligibility system. The ONE Eligibility system supports more than 1.5 million people in Oregon receiving medical, food, cash and childcare benefits.
It is important to us that people get the right services on time. We’re pleased the audit showed the ONE Eligibility system is generally performing as it should and we’re acting on the areas where it said we can improve. We are working hard to learn, grow, and serve our community better every day.
We appreciate the hard work of the audit team. Our staff have been helping people in Oregon through tough times, especially after the COVID-19 emergency ended.
The Oregon Secretary of State's recent audit found that the ONE Eligibility system, used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs like SNAP and Medicaid, works effectively with automated processes. However, manual input errors were identified, affecting some cases, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit recommends improvements to strengthen manual controls, which Oregon Department of Human Services and Oregon Health Authority have agreed to implement. These enhancements aim to ensure more accurate benefit calculations and system reliability.
The next office hours are November 12 at 1 p.m. in English and November 20 at 2 p.m. in Spanish.
- Topics for November will include the OHP Bridge and Marketplace expansion to people eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA); Medicare and Marketplace open enrollment; OHP continuous eligibility; and upcoming feedback opportunities for the OHP paper application update.
- December will include updates about OHP Bridge; OHP benefits for Youth with Special Health Care Needs; OHP health-related social needs nutrition benefits; and the paper OHP application update.
American Sign Language and live captioning will be available. If you have questions about accommodations or need assistance to participate, please call 503-945-5488 or email feedback@odhsoha.oregon.gov at least two business days before the webinar. We accept all relay calls.
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