Governor Tina Kotek recently signed Senate Bill 972 into law. This would allow Oregon to move from a federal health insurance market to a state-based insurance market, which could expand health insurance coverage and reduce premium increases.
A state-based exchange is the linchpin that can bring together Oregon’s broad health care priorities. This gives state agencies more flexibility to better serve disparate populations, assist underserved communities, improve access to behavioral health services, lower uninsured rates, and reduce administrative costs. You will gain sex.
With his signature, Kotek is fulfilling his campaign promise to ensure all Oregonians have access to affordable health care. Launching state-based exchanges could help increase enrollment and keep costs under state control.
All states participate in health care marketplaces where residents can purchase affordable plans. In some states, the federal government operates the exchanges, while others have adopted a hybrid model. The District of Columbia and 18 states have opted for state-based exchanges over the federal market, including Nevada, where I am the executive director of the exchange. , we’ve seen the benefits of this transition firsthand. Among the many benefits I have witnessed, the ability to run the system autonomously has had the greatest impact, allowing us to implement state policies that are best for Nevadans, such as state-specific special enrollment periods. The Oregonian can do the same.
Last year, about 150,000 people in Oregon purchased health insurance through the federal exchange. Switching to state exchanges could increase that number even more as states cut off Medicaid coverage for people who no longer qualify for free coverage.
State-based exchanges would more effectively enable outreach and enrollment efforts to target underserved populations. For federal exchanges, their approach often reflects a one-size-fits-all approach, whereas state-based exchanges offer specific geographic, economic, and It is used across the country to target demographic profiles. Specific data. States that operate state-based exchanges also regularly invest in educational campaigns and provide community support to help individuals and small businesses understand their options, apply for subsidies, and enroll in appropriate health plans. doing. This localized support is especially important for underserved groups, who are often difficult to access.
Now that the coronavirus health emergency is over and federal funding has increased, Oregon must fight to maintain the enrollment growth that health officials have achieved over the past few years. In 2022, the percentage of residents with health insurance will increase to 95.4%, exceeding the national average by more than 3 percentage points. However, if not carefully managed, widespread health insurance losses can occur.
To combat loss of coverage, implementation of state-based exchanges could be particularly helpful in supporting Kotec’s efforts to protect women’s health care in Oregon. Currently, more than 87,000 women in the state do not have health insurance, and the uninsured rate is 7%. The transition to state-based exchanges could be important for further lowering rates, especially by allowing states to implement campaigns and programs aimed at lowering rates.
Maintaining coverage levels requires states to flexibly adjust policies, subsidies, and programs that only state-based exchanges can provide. Moving to a state-based exchange could reduce operating costs and limit monthly premium increases. For example, states that operate their own exchanges have been successful in controlling and limiting premium growth due to strategies they take to stabilize the market. Additionally, we find that state-based exchanges consistently increase competition among insurers, leading to lower premiums and lower premium growth over time. Similar studies show that states with their own health care markets have premiums up to 20 percent lower than those under the federal system.
These low premiums are also due to the fact that state-based exchanges allow states to design and manage their own health insurance markets, taking into account the specific needs and demographics of their residents. Regional control allows states to customize their markets to address the unique health care challenges facing their populations. Countries with their own exchanges can also put in place more robust regulatory and monitoring mechanisms. Greater control over plan standards and operating costs will help ensure that health plans offered through exchanges offer adequate coverage at a reasonable price.
There are no shortage of pressing health insurance challenges, but if the transition to state-based exchanges moves quickly, health insurance will become truly accessible and affordable. With this transition, the state and its residents embark on a new health care future run by and for Oregon.
The Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of State Newsroom, a network of newsrooms supported by a coalition of grants and donors as a 501c(3) public charity. The Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. If you have any questions, please contact editor Lynne Terry at [email protected].
