“Health coverage can be confusing if you don't know what to look for. It can be quite overwhelming." This is the sentiment that was heard from people around the state during research conducted by the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace in 2023.
Meanwhile, 96 percent of Oregonians are enrolled in health coverage either through their job, a public program like the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare, or through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. This is in large part due to the free help available from community groups and insurance agents around the state.
Trained community groups, Tribal health organizations and insurance agents provide expert help in helping people get health coverage. Many of these experts help people sign up for health insurance through OregonHealthCare.gov, a website run by the Marketplace. The Marketplace primarily helps people get insurance when they do not have coverage available through a job and do not qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, Medicare or another program.
Grants totaling $3,626,750 will be awarded to 16 community groups, two Tribal health organizations and 29 insurance agents. Awardees use these grants to spread awareness of the upcoming Marketplace health insurance open enrollment period, which is Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 for 2024 health coverage. They are available to help Oregonians enroll in coverage through the Marketplace during open enrollment.
Grantees are also available to help people transition to private health coverage if they have experienced a qualifying life event. This includes people who are losing Oregon Health Plan benefits as the state works to renew each of its current members.
Grantees were judged on multiple criteria, including their demonstrated ties to community networks with an emphasis on hard-to-reach populations, and capacity to serve consumers whether they are eligible for Marketplace health plans or other programs, such as the Oregon Health Plan or Medicare. Grantees represent and serve Oregon's diverse populations and offer services in multiple languages, including Arabic, Asian languages, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
Community partner groups who will receive grants are:
- Asian Health & Service Center, Portland
- Cascade AIDS Project, Portland
- Centro Latino Americano, Eugene
- Chinese Friendship Association of Portland, Portland
- Ethiopian and Eritrean Cultural Resource Center, Portland
- Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Portland
- Interface Network, Salem
- Mercy Connections, Portland
- Mosaic Medical, Bend
- Northeast Oregon Network, La Grande
- Portland Open Bible Community Pantry, Portland
- Project Access Now (PANOW), Portland
- Quest Center for Integrative Health, Portland
- Slavic Community Center of NW, Portland
- Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy, Medford
- Waterfall Community Health Center, North Bend
Tribes that will receive grants are:
- Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Roseburg and Canyonville
- Klamath Tribes, Klamath Falls
Insurance agents – also called partner agents – who will receive grants are:
- Aaron Michael Burns Insurance Services, Eugene
- Abel Insurance, Coos Bay, Florence, Gold Beach, and Newport
- Bancorp Insurance, La Pine
- Boone Insurance Associates, Eugene
- Country Financial, Sisters
- Gordon Wood Insurance, Roseburg
- Grace Insurance Services, Portland
- HE Cross Company, Portland
- Health Plans in Oregon, Portland
- HealthMarkets Insurance, Canby
- Healthwise Insurance Planning, Portland
- Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, Tigard
- High Desert Insurance, Bend
- Hillock Insurance Agency, Enterprise
- iCover Oregon, Albany
- Insurance By Design, Wilsonville
- K Insurance Group, Independence
- Linda Dugan Insurance, Astoria
- M&G Insurance and Risk Management, Lake Oswego
- Matthew Woodbridge Insurance, Salem and Woodburn
- NW 365 Insurance, Tigard
- Premier NW Insurance, Oregon City, Salem, and Sandy
- RJS & Associates, Philomath
- Shanon Saldivar Insurance, Hood River and The Dalles
- The Simmons Agency, Klamath Falls, Medford, Hermiston, and Beaverton
- Thippayaphorn Om Sukheenai, Newberg
- Tomlin Health Insurance, Eugene
- Valley Insurance, La Grande
To make an appointment with a partner or agent, go to OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp or call 855-268-3767 (toll-free).