Each and every state has a Medicaid program. The state of Oregon has a Medicaid program that is called the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). It is composed of several different programs that are each a part of the state’s Medicaid program.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. Every state receives some federal funding for its Medicaid program, and also contributes some state funding to it. In Oregon, the federal Medicaid plans are administered by the Oregon Health Authority. Low-income Oregonians may be eligible for one of the Oregon Health Plan options.
Oregon is the only state that I know of that has devised a system that does not connect to Medicaid but can help people to afford health care. In Portland, Oregon, they have something called Hour Exchange Portland. One could say it works like a barter system. Use the Hour Exchange to find out what your neighbors want help with. The hours you spend helping earn you some time credits.
Those time credits can be turned in for services that are provided by any member of the service. So far, there have been 25,000 hours of free health care provided to people who use this system. Oregonians who can’t afford to buy private health insurance, and do not qualify for Medicaid, may want to check out Hour Exchange Portland.
In Oregon, the Medicaid program is called the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). It is a state health care coverage program for uninsured adults with low incomes. In other words, OHP is a public, or government run, form of health insurance.
To qualify for the program, a person must be age 19 or older. (There is a different program for children). A person must have been without medical insurance coverage for at least 6 months before applying for OHP. Women who are pregnant, and who are covered by a private health insurance policy that doesn’t include coverage for maternity, might be able to qualify for OHP.
Once a person is enrolled, that person will receive coverage for one full year. Coverage includes medical care, limited emergency dental services, mental health care, and out-patient substance abuse treatment. The cost of OHP may vary. You might have to pay a monthly premium, and you might have to pay a co-payment for some services.
When you fill out the application for OHP, you can request that it cover yourself and your spouse. You must include your Social Security number (SSN) on the application.
The state of Oregon uses your Social Security number to check your income and assets by matching your SSN to other state and federal records. This is to help the state determine that you receive the right amount of benefits, to check on third-party insurance information, and to recover overpaid benefits. You will be expected to provide proof of your income, (such as a recent pay stub).
Pregnant women who apply for OHP will be asked to provide a copy of a letter from a doctor or clinic that proves that she is pregnant. The application asks for information about the child’s father. You may be required to work with Oregon’s Child Support System if your baby has an absent parent.
Image by Kirby Urner on Flickr