Best Cheap Oregon Health Insurance for 2022 - Benzinga

Want to jump straight to health insurance quotes? Compare here and find the cheapest premium with the best coverage.

Only 7% of Oregon residents are uninsured, so you probably know that health insurance coverage is important. That doesn’t make shopping for a plan any easier. We’ll help you discover how health insurance works and which providers are the best in Oregon.

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Quick Look: Best Oregon Health Insurance

Best Health Insurance Providers in Oregon

To find the best health insurance in Oregon, you should think about the level of coverage you need and your budget. Our extensive research on top providers in Oregon can help make your search a little easier. We looked at independent ratings, financial stability and the overall reputation of insurance companies to bring you the best providers.

1. Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente, or the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, provides health insurance to a large portion of Northwest Oregon.

The company is the winner of the 2019 J.D. Power Commercial Member Health Plan Satisfaction Study. It received top ratings for categories including overall satisfaction, communication and cost.

Additionally, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) makes Kaiser the top pick for Oregon health insurance with a 4.5/5 overall rating.

Best For

Access to Kaiser medical specialists

# of Healthcare Providers

150k+

1 Minute Review

Kaiser Permanente is a not-for-profit health plan. Kaiser Permanente offers both health insurance and health care, which has resulted in excellent reviews from customers and rating organizations. Kaiser Permanente does have limited service areas, and you typically need to stay in-network for services unless you’re experiencing an emergency.

Best For

People in Kaiser Permanente service areas
People who don’t mind managed care
People who like to manage their care online

Pros

Many services available in one location
Ability to make appointments online or using an app
Good customer service

Cons

Limited service area
Need to stay in the Kaiser Permanente network for most services

2. Providence Health Plan

Slightly behind the Kaiser health insurance plan in most ratings is Providence Health Plan. The company offers health insurance plans in Washington and Oregon.

Providence received a 4.0/5 rating by the NCQA and came in 3rd in the J.D. Power Health Plan Satisfaction Study.

The company has a range of health insurance plans to meet almost any coverage needs and budget.

3. Moda Health

Moda Health is available only in Oregon and Alaska. In addition to health benefits, Moda health insurance plans give you access to additional benefits.

The intuitive online platform allows you to use the Individual Assistance Program.

This free service gives you and your family access to counseling sessions for various personal situations including grieving a loss, workplace conflict and depression.

4. UnitedHealthcare

As the largest health insurance provider in the U.S., UnitedHealthcare has a large network of doctors and healthcare facilities for your use.

If you need the flexibility of a large provider network, UnitedHealthcare may be right for you. Additionally, there’s a good chance that your existing doctor and other healthcare providers are already a part of its network.

UnitedHealthcare earned a respectable 3.5/5 from the NCQA for health insurance in Oregon.

Best For

Same day coverage available

# of Healthcare Providers

855k+

1 Minute Review

UnitedHealthcare is an insurance company that is dedicated to making the health care system work better for everyone. Its plans can serve customers of all ages, starting in childhood and continuing all the way through the retirement years. The company partners with more than 1.3 million health care professionals and over 6,500 hospitals to give customers the freedom to access healthcare wherever they are. This insurance provider has a strong financial standing and good ratings, making it a reliable option for just about anybody.

5. Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a nationwide insurance company of combined independent companies. Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon provides health insurance for Oregon residents.

The NCQA and J.D. Power both rate Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon as about average compared to other providers.

However, the company offers an incentive program called Blue365 that reimburses members for weight loss and fitness programs.

Get started

securely through Regence Health Insurance’s
website

Best For

Nationwide coverage

get started

Call Now

securely through Blue Cross Blue Shield’s
website

# of Healthcare Providers

28k+

1 Minute Review

Blue Cross Blue Shield consists of 35 separate companies that provide health insurance for roughly one-third of Americans. The company serves all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and many international areas.

While you look into the BCBS affiliates near you, understand what health plans are available as well as the health insurance cost. It offers extensive coverage that gives just about every American the opportunity to purchase a BCBS-affiliated health plan. However, be sure to read up on the company because the premiums and deductibles may not suit you and your circumstances.

Best For

Desire for a new doctor with plenty of options
No cap on annual maximum limits
Comprehensive coverage with exclusive discounts and partnerships

Pros

Coverage in all 50 states and outside the country
Covers both generic and brand-name drugs
Wide network of doctors, hospitals and specialists

Cons

Plans offered through regional companies, meaning you must look to your regional company for specific policies
Main customer service helpline may be difficult to reach

What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is insurance coverage that helps you pay for medical treatments.

It works by allowing you to protect yourself from unexpected, large medical bills. You pay a fee, known as a premium, to be enrolled in a health insurance plan. Your health insurance helps cover part or all of the costs when you visit your doctor.

For example, you’re in a car accident and break your leg. You require surgery and a stay at the hospital for a couple of weeks. Your medical bills for the surgery and hospital stay are going to cost $30,000. You probably don’t have that much money available for a medical bill. Luckily, your health insurance covers your injury and pays for the majority.

In addition to premiums, there are a lot of common health insurance terms and concepts. Knowing these terms can help you better understand how health insurance works. This knowledge also helps you read through confusing health insurance documents as you search for health insurance in Oregon.

Some terms you’ll encounter while looking for insurance include:

Claim: Your request for coverage of medical treatments or surgeries. It’s common for the financial office of your healthcare facility to make the claim to your insurance company on your behalf.Coinsurance: A percentage representing the portion of a treatment you must pay. If you have a 50% coinsurance for a $100 treatment, you pay $50. Your insurance company pays the remaining 50% of the bill.Copayment: Copays are fixed prices for certain medical procedures. They’re a lot like coinsurance, but you have a set price for each service. For example, a regular doctor’s visit requires a $25 copay.Deductible: Your deductible is a dollar amount you must pay for medical services before your health insurance starts paying for treatments. For example, a $3,000 deductible requires you to pay for the first $3,000 of medical bills.Network: Health insurance companies contract with certain doctors, hospitals and other healthcare facilities and suppliers. The providers who contract with the insurance company are known as the network. You will likely pay less for healthcare costs if you use a doctor or other provider within your insurance company’s network.Out-of-pocket limit: Your out-of-pocket limit is the maximum amount you’ll pay for covered medical treatments or services each year. While premium payments don’t count toward your limit, your deductible does. Most plans also count payments like coinsurance or copays toward the limit as well.

Average Cost of Health Insurance in Oregon

The average annual cost of health insurance for an individual on an employer’s plan in Oregon is $6,441, with the employee covering $1,061 of the total cost. This is just over $88 per month for employees with health insurance benefits.

Don’t have coverage from your employer and wondering how to get health insurance? You may have to shop for an individual plan on the health insurance marketplace. The average cost of a mid-level plan, known as Silver plans is $428 per month or $5,136 per year.

The cost of health insurance is based on 3 important factors:

Your ageYour locationTobacco use

You probably won’t find any discounts for health insurance, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to lower your costs. Consider some of these options for affordable health insurance:

Choose a catastrophic plan, one that only covers major expenses like surgery, if you’re under 30 years old and eligible.Pick a plan with a higher deductible and lower monthly premium.Stop smoking, as tobacco use can greatly increase your insurance costs.Go to in-network doctors for medical services.

Check to see if you qualify for government subsidies. Subsidies are essentially money the government uses to help cover your health insurance costs if you meet certain income restrictions.

Types of Health Coverage

You have several different types of health insurance plans available. Each type of health coverage offers different advantages and disadvantages. What’s right for one person may not be the best fit for you.

Get to know the different types of health coverage to make your decision easier when it’s time to buy insurance. Even if you have health insurance benefits through your employer, most employer plans have a couple of different coverage options.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans

A PPO plan uses a network of contracted doctors and healthcare facilities to help you save money on medical costs. You can visit any doctor you want and still receive insurance benefits. If you visit a doctor within the network, your insurance will probably cover more of the cost. With a PPO plan, you don’t need to choose a primary provider and can visit a specialist without your doctor’s referral.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans

HMO plans require you to only use healthcare providers within the HMO network. If you visit a doctor outside the network, you usually have to pay the full cost of your visit out of pocket. Some HMO plans have a service area in which you must live or work to be eligible for the plan.

Most HMO plans require you to pick a primary care provider. This is an in-network doctor you choose for all routine medical care. You’ll usually have to get a referral from your primary care physician to see a specialist.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)

EPO plans are similar to HMO plans. Your insurance only covers visits to in-network providers. However, you usually don’t have to pick a primary care provider or need a referral to see an in-network specialist.

What Does Health Insurance Cover?

The type of health coverage you choose can affect what services and treatments are covered. However, most health insurance plans cover many of the same services. In fact, the Affordable Care Act mandates that all health insurance plans cover 10 essential benefits:

Ambulatory patient services, or care you receive without being admitted to a hospitalEmergency servicesHospitalizationPregnancy and newborn care for both before and after the birth of a childServices for mental health and substance use disordersPrescription drugsServices and devices for people with injuries, disabilities or chronic conditions to help them recover from mental and physical skillsLaboratory servicesPreventive servicesMedical care for children, or pediatric care

While coverage for these categories is required, most health insurance plans cover more than the 10 essential categories. Common services covered by health insurance, including essential care services, include:

Routine doctor visitsUrgent care and emergency room visitsCancer treatmentsBlood testsPhysical therapyX-Rays

What Does Health Insurance Not Cover?

Health insurance doesn’t cover all medical treatments. While insurance companies are required to cover the 10 essential benefits, there are several categories most insurance companies won’t cover. Most of these services are considered not medically necessary or too experimental in nature.

Common services and treatments health insurance plans exclude from their coverage include:

Plastic surgery, unless it’s deemed medically necessary, such as facial reconstruction for a burn victimWeight loss treatments or surgeryAlternative healing practices like acupunctureNursing home costs related to room and boardOver-the-counter medicationsFertility treatments

Choose the Provider That’s Right for You

To get the right health insurance, consider all of your options. You may have access to health insurance through your employer. If your employer is working with an insurance company that doesn’t meet your needs, be sure to talk to your human resources or benefits department to request more plan options.

If you need individual health insurance in Oregon, it pays to shop around. Look at the Healthcare.gov Marketplace and request quotes directly from insurance companies.

Learn more about the best health insurance companies and get quotes for health plans today.

What type of health insurance policies are available?

asked 2022-03-21

Tara Seboldt

Generally, you can choose from health insurance policies that include HMOs which keep costs down, PPOs which have more versatility and indemnity policies that set prices for specific services.

Answer Link

answered 2022-03-21

Benzinga

Does health insurance cover vision and dental?

asked 2022-03-21

Tara Seboldt

Health insurance does not truly cover vision and dental. There are small allowances for vision and dental, but you should purchase a specific dental or vision policy for better coverage.

Answer Link

answered 2022-03-21

Benzinga

Best Cheap Oregon Health Insurance for 2022 – Benzinga

Quick Look: Best Oregon Health Insurance