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Cover Oregon Progress Report: Nearly 3,500 Oregonians Enroll in Health Insurance to Date, Applications Moving More Quickly

Rocky King Notifies Board of 3-Month Medical Leave
December 2, 2013

Cover Oregon announced today that it has enrolled 3,470 Oregonians in health insurance to date and are moving forward quickly to ensure that all completed applications received by Dec. 4 will be processed in time for coverage to start by Jan. 1, 2014.  

Also today, Cover Oregon Executive Director Rocky King requested permission from the Board of Directors to take a three-month medical leave of absence effective Tuesday, Dec. 3, due to issues related to a previously diagnosed medical condition. The Cover Oregon Board will begin conducting a swift search for an interim executive director through King’s medical leave of absence. During that search, Bruce Goldberg, M.D., will serve as acting Cover Oregon Executive Director.

“We are starting to see enrollments and are gaining momentum. I am confident we are on the right track to get people the health coverage they need. While our work is not done, I had to make the difficult decision to focus on my health now so that I can get better. I know that the Board and Dr. Goldberg will keep things moving forward in my absence,” said King.  

Today’s announced enrollments include a total of 3,470 Oregonians enrolled through Cover Oregon. Of those, 219 Oregonians enrolled in a private plan and 3,251 enrolled in Oregon Health Plan. Cover Oregon has received in total more than 54,000 applications received so far and staff are working to get those applications processed as quickly as possible.

People eligible for private plans will receive an enrollment packet in the mail, with instructions on how to select a plan, and they need to return that packet no later than Dec. 15 for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2014. Those eligible for the Oregon Health Plan will be automatically enrolled in coverage.

Here are important deadlines and tips to keep in mind:

  • Dec. 4, 2013: Applications must be complete and postmarked by this date for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2014. Once processed the applicant will receive a letter letting them know whether they are eligible for private insurance with or without tax credits, or for Oregon Health Plan.
  • Dec.15, 2013: Deadline for enrollment forms to be returned (postmarked) to Cover Oregon. People who are eligible for a private plan will receive an enrollment packet in the mail from Cover Oregon.
  • March 31, 2014: Open enrollment for Cover Oregon ends. The next open enrollment period begins Oct. 15, 2014 for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2015.

There are many ways to get help completing an application or enrolling in a health insurance plan. They can go to CoverOregon.com and find a certified community partner or insurance agent or call 1-855-CoverOR. To date, Cover Oregon has received nearly 890,000 hits on the CoverOregon.com website and more than 50,000 calls to the service center. 

 

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