People needing health care coverage have until Thursday to sign up for Obamacare

Oregonians have only a few days left to sign up for health care coverage through Oregon’s health insurance marketplace website, or they will have to wait until next year to get covered.

​Open enrollment using the marketplace ends at midnight Thursday, Jan. 15, and with only a few days to go, enrollment is down about 14 percent compared to last year, according to acasignups.net. Last year, nearly 140,000 Oregonians received health insurance through marketplace plans, with 80% of them receiving financial assistance with their coverage.

​“A majority of folks who enroll through the marketplace still qualify for financial help. So it definitely behooves people to try to see what they can get,” said Amy Coven, spokesperson for OregonHealthCare.gov, the state’s marketplace.

Set up by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, marketplaces are used by people who buy their own coverage because they don’t get it from an employer or a government program.

The premiums currently posted on the state’s Obamacare website are far higher than the year before due to the expiration of enhanced subsidies. But those could be reinstated by Congress, where the House approved the idea last week — so people should enroll to make sure they don’t miss out, according to Coven. People who miss the deadline are currently not expected to receive a second chance.

“It’s important that folks already have coverage,” she said. “They may be able to get a higher-level plan if those enhanced savings go through. But if they haven’t signed up for coverage at all, then they may not be able to enroll until next year.”

Coven said that people who were automatically re-enrolled by their plan but who do not want to stay with that plan and have not paid their first premium, can select another plan through the marketplace prior to the deadline.

The Oregon Health Authority also is cautioning against imposter websites and to only use the OregonHealthCare.gov website. The fake sites, say state health officials, often use aggressive sales tactics and promise free or guaranteed health insurance. But while those plans may appear affordable, they often do not meet federal standards, offer limited or no coverage for essential benefits such as mental health care or preventative services, and can leave people with unexpected medical bills.

​For people who enroll by Thursday, and pay their first premium, their coverage will start on Feb. 1. People who miss this enrollment period will have to wait until next year to sign up, unless they qualify for a special enrollment option due to specific situations, such as losing other coverage, moving, or changes in household size, according to state health officials.

​And if anyone has a question, they can call the state marketplace at 855-268-3767 for assistance on setting up a plan and filling out the application.

“There are experts who are available to help,” Coven said. “Even though we’re in the last few days, we have a really wide network of assistance that’s available. It’s all completely free of charge. We work with application assisters at community-based organizations who are all trained experts.”

​To enroll, go to OregonHealthCare.gov or call 855-268-3767.

This story was originally published by The Lund Report, an independent nonprofit health news organization based in Oregon. It is republished with permission. Joanne Zuhl can be reached at joanne@thelundreport.org.

This republished story is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit opb.org/partnerships.