By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, February 21st, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
OREGON – (Release from the Oregon Health Authority) The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) wants Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members to know that health coverage renewals will resume on April 1. While most people will continue to qualify for existing benefits, OHA is required to review eligibility for all 1.47 million OHP members by June 2024. Members will receive a notice between April 2023 and January 2024.
“Health care is vital to Oregon families, and we want to maintain the coverage they depend on,” said interim OHA Director James Schroeder. “Our goal is to make sure that everyone who is eligible for benefits, stays covered. Keeping your contact information up to date and responding quickly to further requests will help your renewal go faster and avoid any preventable disruptions in your care.”
OHA and the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) are encouraging OHP members to keep their contact information up to date, so they can receive renewal forms and requests for information. Such messages will be important in the coming months and will require members to respond in a timely manner.
There are several ways people can update their contact information, including:
OHA expects some members to be automatically renewed without any action necessary. If additional information is needed, however, a notification will be sent to the OHP member, who will then have 90 days to complete the renewal form and provide additional information to verify their eligibility. If someone is determined to be no longer eligible for OHP, they will have 60 days before their OHP benefits will end.
State health officials want anyone who no longer qualifies for OHP coverage to know that they still have affordable health coverage options. The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace (OHIM) will send information to people who are no longer eligible for OHP benefits and advise of potential coverage options and financial help through the Marketplace. People who do not enroll through the Marketplace will receive a second notice 30 days before their special enrollment period ends, based on the date their OHP benefits conclude. The Marketplace Transition Help Center will help people understand their options, how to transition to the Marketplace, and to find help from local health coverage experts. The large number of OHP redeterminations is expected to cause greater wait times, delays, and possible interruptions to people’s OHP benefits. OHP members are encouraged to respond quickly after they receive a request for information to avoid any possible delays. The fastest way members can provide an update is by going to benefits.oregon.gov and logging into their ONE account.