Hello! This message is coming to you from the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. We're a part of Oregon state government, and we help people get covered through HealthCare.gov. Some recent headlines about health care have been confusing, and maybe even a little alarming. But, don’t worry, if you qualify for financial assistance, you will continue to receive it. The Trump administration announced it will stop paying insurance companies for a subsidy tied to some HealthCare.gov plans. Congress is in talks to resume the payments. But these developments will not stop any financial help you may be getting through HealthCare.gov. Also, coverage options and financial assistance will be available again for 2018 coverage. Do you have more questions about this situation? Read our frequently asked questions below, or call us toll-free at 1-855-268-3767, Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the announcement about stopping some payments to health insurance companies mean? Does that mean my financial assistance stops? No. If you enrolled through HealthCare.gov and qualified for a subsidy to lower your premium, you will continue receiving it. If you qualified for reduced out-of-pocket costs on a silver plan, this announcement does not change your plan and does not change your benefits under the plan. Your reduced deductible, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximum stay the same. How will the president’s decision affect premium subsidies? The announcement does not address premium subsidies. Premium subsidies help lower the price you pay each month to have coverage through HealthCare.gov, and they are unchanged. The administration will stop paying another kind of payment that goes to insurance companies that covers some of the out-of-pocket costs for middle-income Oregonians who enroll through HealthCare.gov. These payments are called cost-sharing reduction payment. Can the federal government decide to end premium subsidies next? No. The administration was able end the cost-sharing reduction subsidies because an earlier court ruling allowed it. There is no case or ruling challenging premium subsidies. How will this affect 2018 plans? In order to ensure carriers continue to offer coverage in Oregon, the Division of Financial Regulation allowed health insurance companies offering plans on HealthCare.gov to increase their already approved silver metal tier 2018 plan rates by 7.1 percent. If you qualify for financial assistance, it is likely you will be protected from this premium increase. That’s because only silver plan premiums will have the extra increase for 2018, and premium subsidies keep pace with silver plan prices. Non-silver metal tier plan rates (e.g., bronze and gold) will not have this extra premium increase. Don’t forget: Open enrollment for 2018 is Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.
From Kyla:
You should update your financial information by CLICKING HERE on Nov 1st or after, and to compare plans and rates for 2018. Your income and plan options may have changed since last year so shop starting Nov 1st using the above link to find out more and make changes.
This letter was sent out to all Marketplace customers in Oregon and I'm providing it here for my clients to read in case they missed it.
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services · 350 Winter Street NE · Salem, OR 97309-0405 · 503-378-4100