Annual Oregon Health Insurance Market Update

The following contains information for our NAHP Alternative Health Plan Solutions and ACA/Obamacare plans for individuals and small businesses in the state of Oregon.

Oregon Alternative Health Plan Solutions Updates

Individual Plans

For those who don’t qualify for a tax credit subsidy to help pay for an ACA/Obamacare plan, we have a strong “health insurance buffet” of alternative plans in Oregon.

On our Primary Fixed Benefit plans we now offer the following:

Manhattan Life - Manhattan Life Affordable Choice 18 fixed benefit plan. NOTE: The Affordable Choice 18 plan has the BEST inpatient hospital coverage of any fixed benefit plan available today.

Philadelphia American - Health Choice Select and Health Saver Plus III fixed benefit plans.

As noted on our Oregon state page, our other Primary plan option - Short Term Medical (STM) plans are limited by state law to duration's of no more than 90 days per policy. Because of this we aren’t recommending that they be used in our alternative plan packages at this time.

Our Supplemental Plan lineup has also expanded and improved:

• Accident Plans – In addition to accident supplemental plans from all our Primary plan companies (above), we offer separate LifeSecure Accident plans.
• Critical Illness Plans – Again, along with plans from all our Primary plan companies, we offer separate LifeSecure Critical Illness plans.
• Cancer and Dread Disease Treatment – BIG ADDITION - The new addition to our alternative “buffet“ package is the Manhattan Life Cancer Care Plus plans. These plans give a HUGE boost by paying for actual treatment costs for Cancer and many other Dread Diseases.
• Hospital Stay Protection – To provide extra protection for an inpatient hospital stay, we offer plans from companies such as Surebridge, LifeSecure, Medico, and Washington National.
• Preventive Care Plus Plans – For those who want the MOST comprehensive coverage for preventive care plus other outpatient services, we have two options: Enrollment First SelectMed plans and SHA Preventive and Prescription Drug Plans.
• Prescription Drug Plans – For anyone who needs extra coverage for high cost prescriptions, the SHA link above includes their SHARx prescription drug plan. This plan works with our alternative plans and any employer plan with a high deductible for non-preferred brand and specialty prescriptions.

More information on all plans above can be found on each company’s page on our website and on our US Supplemental Coverage page.

IMPORTANT TIP: In most cases, you can combine one of the above Fixed Benefit plans and/or STM plans together with an Accident, Critical Illness, Cancer Treatment AND First Day Hospital plans, and still be 15-20% LESS than a high deductible ACA/Obamacare plan! That is a package with first dollar, NO deductible coverage versus paying a high deductible up front before getting benefits on most services.

There is one last NEW addition I want to mention. I worked on it most of the past year. While I think it will be especially beneficial to people with one of the alternative plan packages (above), I believe it can help you lower your overall health care costs no matter what primary health insurance you have. Please go to my US Healthcare Resources page and spend some time going through all of the different tools, services and providers that are available to help you become a better health care consumer.

Small Group Plans

In Oregon, we have two companies (National General and Trustmark) that provide cost-saving, level funded alternative group health plans. Level funded plans can be a BETTER option for many businesses than the “one size fits all” ACA/Obamacare small group health insurance plans.

If you own, or work for a business with 5 to 50 employees covered on a “traditional,” fully insured group health plan from one of the companies below requesting a BIG increase, and believe the covered group members to be reasonably healthy overall, then it might be time for your company to explore a level funded plan.

To get quotes on a level funded group health plan, please schedule a call with us to review your situation. We will also need you to fill out our Group Census spreadsheet and email it to: robtavis@ushealthinsurancesolutions.com.

Oregon 2020 ACA/Obamacare Health Insurance Market Updates

Individual Plans

The following are some of the biggest updates/changes in the ACA/Obamacare individual market in Oregon.

Oregon is one of several states that may take a stab at launching their own health insurance exchanges and getting off of the Federal Marketplace. Oregon hasn’t set a tentative date for its exchange at this time.

Small Group Plans

As with many states there is not much “new” to report with ACA/Obamacare small group plans in Oregon.

As noted in our Federal Market Update ACA/Obamacare small group plans generally reported higher overall increases than the individual market. The one exception is a small decrease from Health Net of OR.

Oregon 2020 Preliminary Rate review:

Oregon preliminary 2020 individual plan rate filing requests are as follows:

• Bridgespan Health - requested an average increase of 1.46% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Health Net of OR - requested an average increase of 8.93% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Kaiser Permanente - requested an average increase of 11.47% varying by plan type (not finalized yet). 
• Moda Health Plan - requested an average decrease of 5.25% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• PacificSource Health Plans - requested an average increase of 4.38% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Providence Health Plans - requested an average increase of 0.4% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of OR requested an average increase of 5.5% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)

Oregon small group market rate filing requests look like this

• Health Net of OR - requested an average decrease of 2.23% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Kaiser Permanente - requested an average increase of 9.11% varying by plan type (not finalized yet). 
• Moda Health Plan - requested an average increase of 4.79% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• PacificSource Health Plans - requested an average increase of 4.38% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Providence Health Plans - requested an average increase of 3.99% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of OR requested an average increase of 9.34% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)
• United Healthcare - requested an average increase of 11.83% varying by plan type (not finalized yet)

 

 U.S. Insurance Solutions is here to help

Remember, you are NOT in this alone…I am here to help! As your Personal Health Insurance Advisor, my goal is to make your life easier by taking the hassle out of finding the right health plan for your situation and needs.

To discuss your health insurance options and make sure you have the best possible health plan for your situation, please go to the link above with the image that says CALL ME and schedule a call with me on a day and time that works for you, and I will call you to review your options.