Oregon's Health Insurance Exchange

The Oregon Health Exchange has launched a new website at www.orhix.org. Visit the site for information about the Exchange, including upcoming meeting dates, news, and contact information.

• Planning
• Implementation
• Questions or Comments
• Meeting schedule and documents

A health insurance exchange for individuals and small businesses

On Tuesday, June 7, Oregon lawmakers passed legislation to create an Oregon Health Insurance Exchange. The exchange will be a central marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses to have access to affordable, quality health care.

Under the law, people will be able to sign up for the exchange in October 2013, for coverage to start in 2014. The law is also explicit in that the exchange must be accountable to the public and work for the benefit of the people and businesses that obtain health insurance coverage through it for themselves, their families and their employees.

Also through the exchange, working Oregonians who cannot afford the high cost of premiums will have access to tax credits that will lower those costs.

The Oregon Health Policy Board worked throughout 2010 on a plan for Oregon's Health Insurance Exchange. After obtaining input at public meetings around the state, OHPB submitted its plan to the Legislature  in December 2010, which was used in drafting the recently passed legislation.

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Planning

Oregon has been awarded two grants from the federal government related to the exchange.

1. Health Insurance Exchange Planning Grant: Oregon received a federal grant for the first year of planning for the Exchange.
   • Project grant narrative 
   • Quarter 1 progress report 
   • Quarter 2 progress report 
   • Quarter 3 progress report 

The Health Insurance Exchange Consumer Advisory Group advises staff on planning considerations from the consumer perspective. Note: this group is advisory and is not making policy decisions.

2. Exchange Early Information Technology Innovation Grant: Under federal reform, all states will have an exchange, either state- or federally run. This grant allows Oregon to set up the information technology systems necessary to have an exchange that serves Oregon's needs and allows us to innovate at the local level. Also under this grant, we would be creating a prototype that could be used by other states. As with all federal grants, the Exchange Early Information Technology Innovation Grant will go through legislative approval.
   • Read the grant narrative .

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Implementation

• Level 1 Implementation Grant Narrative and Work Plan