More Than 147,000 Register for Health Insurance in Oregon
Saturday, February 06, 2016
Enrollment for 2016 was about 31 percent higher than in 2015, according to the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. In 2015, 112,000 people signed up. That increase gave Oregon the largest jump of any state.
"We are encouraged that so many Oregonians were able to sign up and take advantage of financial help. Signing up is an important first step toward getting the care you need," said Patrick Allen, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. "As a next step, consumers should familiarize themselves with their plans. If you have questions about what doctors, services, and drugs are covered, you can always call your insurer."
Those who missed open enrollment may still be able to get covered. If they experience a qualifying life event, such as getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage, they can apply for a special enrollment period through HealthCare.gov.
Many low-income Oregonians are also eligible for free or low-cost coverage through the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon's Medicaid program. You can apply for the Oregon Health Plan at any time.
Those without coverage could have to pay a penalty when they file their federal income tax return. The penalty for going without coverage in 2016 is the higher of 2.5 percent of yearly household income or $695 for every adult in your family plus $347.50 for every child under 18.
Roughly 70 percent of new enrollees are receiving tax credits averaging $256 per month help pay for premiums.
In early 2016, most Oregonians will receive one or more tax forms -- IRS Form 1095 -- about the health care coverage they had in 2015. These tax forms verify that consumers had the coverage required by the Affordable Care Act.
"If you received tax credits to help you pay for your insurance during 2015, you will need to file a federal income tax return," Allen said. "You need to reconcile the amount of tax credits you qualified for with what you received. Otherwise you could have to pay back those tax credits back to the federal government."
Allen also said that it’s important to report any life changes to HealthCare.gov as soon as possible. Changes in income, number of family members covered, or getting other coverage can affect the coverage or financial help you're eligible for.
Some Oregonians may qualify for a health coverage exemption to avoid paying the fee for not having coverage. Exemptions are based on a number of things, such as certain hardships, life events, health coverage or financial status, and membership in some groups. For more information, visit the IRS website.
Related Slideshow: By The Numbers: How Oregonians Rate Their Healthcare Providers
A report from the Oregon Center for Public Policy shows how Oregonians rated their individual CCOs (Coordinated Care Organizations) in 2014 based on percentages of total customers who were satisfied with their service. The report shows both adult and child approval percentages for eight different categories including how well their doctor communicated to the quality of their health plan. GoLocalPDX averaged these approval percentages to determine the CCOs where customers were the most and least satisfied overall in 2014.
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