Oregon Health Plan Reservation List Attracts 76,000 Names

(SALEM, Ore.) - Going into its final week of accepting names, the reservation list for the Oregon Health Plan’s Standard benefit package has attracted the names of 76,106 uninsured Oregonians.

The reservation list, open since January 28th, closes Friday. Oregon Department of Human Services offices, which are among sites where request forms are available, will be open until 5:00 PM.

The call center will remain open Friday until 7:00 PM, Pacific time. And online, e-mail and faxed requests to be placed on the reservation list will be honored until Friday midnight. Request forms sent by U.S. Mail will be accepted only through Friday's close of business, and mailing request forms is not recommended during this final week.

"Low-income uninsured adults who believe they may qualify are encouraged to put their names on the reservation list," said Jim Edge, state Medicaid director in the Oregon Department of Human Services.

"And if you believe you now earn slightly too much to qualify, remember that your circumstances could change between now and when you might receive an application."

The budget for the Standard benefit plan, which now enrolls fewer than 18,000 low-income adults who don’t qualify for traditional Medicaid coverage, can support a monthly average of 24,000 during the state’s two-year budget period.

After state General Fund support was withdrawn from the Standard plan, the state share – matched by federal funds – was partially offset by taxes on hospitals and managed care insurance plans.

DHS will mail 3,000 applications in early March to people whose names are randomly selected from the reservation list. More applications will be mailed in subsequent months until enrollment reaches the budgeted figure.

Nearly 600,000 Oregonians of all ages lack health insurance, of whom an estimated 137,000 adults would qualify for the Standard benefit plan.

· Submit a reservation list request form online at the Oregon Department of Human Services Web site at www.oregon.gov/DHS/. This is the preferred option because it reduces the expense of data entry by state workers.

· Complete and send a hard copy of the request form to DHS. The form is posted on the DHS Web site at oregon.gov/DHS/ and is available at all DHS and Area Agency on Aging field offices, county health departments and most major hospitals and clinics.

· Call 1-800-699-9075 or 503-378-2666 (Salem-area callers) or, for hearing-impaired callers, the TTY line at 503-378-7800, and ask to have your name placed on the reservation list. The call center is open through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Pacific time. Someone may call for another individual by providing the individual’s full name, mailing address and date of birth.

· Send the required information – full name, mailing address and date of birth – by e-mail to or send it by U.S. Mail to Oregon Health Plan, P.O. Box 14520, Salem, OR 97309-5044.

The Standard plan covers physician services, prescription drugs, chemical dependency and mental health services, emergency medical services and limited dental, hospital and vision services. Adults enrolled in the Standard benefit plan are billed monthly for premiums of $0 to $20, depending on income and family size.

Although people submitting request forms for the reservation list may include a Social Security number, they are not required to do so. People are required to submit a Social Security number only when completing applications for benefits they receive from DHS. If asked by any other entity for a Social Security number, individuals should call their local DHS office to determine whether the request is legitimate.

The Oregon Health Plan’s Plus benefit package, meanwhile, is always open to people who are aged, blind, disabled, under age 19, pregnant or receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. Applications for OHP-Plus are available by calling 1-800-359-9517.