This exciting new health coverage program will roll out next month for Oregonians. Project Access NOW’s Insurance Enrollment team will be available to assist individuals with the transition.
The OHP Bridge Program, also known as the Basic Health Program (BHP), is a health insurance program mandated by the Oregon State Legislature. During the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency (PHE), the income eligibility requirements for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) were expanded temporarily to cover people with higher incomes and prevent individuals from losing coverage during the pandemic. Now that the PHE is over and the OHP income eligibility is returning to its pre-pandemic level, this program is intended to serve those individuals who will be losing their OHP coverage as a result, as well as many others who are currently uninsured or enrolled in a private plan they purchased on the federal health insurance Marketplace.
To be eligible for OHP Bridge, individuals must meet the following criteria:
• 19-64 years of age
• Income between 138 and 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
• A citizen or “lawfully-present noncitizen”
• Unable to receive other affordable coverage (such as employer coverage)
OHP Bridge will be essentially free of cost to enrollees. There will be no monthly premiums, deductibles, or copayments for covered services. The program will cover the same benefits as the Oregon Health Plan, excluding a few services like Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS).
As we approach the launch of OHP Bridge, here are a few important dates to note:
• July 1st, 2024: OHP Bridge launches. At this time, all eligible current Oregon Health Plan members will automatically have their enrollment switched over to OHP Bridge. Individuals who are either uninsured or have other health insurance (like a Marketplace plan) who are interested in switching to OHP Bridge can do so at this time as well, but will not automatically be enrolled like eligible OHP members.
• November 1st, 2024: Open Enrollment Begins. We anticipate that many OHP Bridge-eligible individuals who are currently enrolled in Marketplace plans will likely switch over to OHP Bridge at this time.
• December 31st, 2026: OHP Bridge Transition Complete. If they haven’t done so already, all eligible Marketplace enrollees must switch over to OHP Bridge at this time. Marketplace enrollees can automatically re-enroll in their current plan for the 2025 and 2026 years if they choose to do so, but at the end of 2026 they will need to transfer to OHP Bridge.
If you are an Oregon Health Plan member and meet the eligibility requirements for OHP Bridge, your enrollment will be automatically switched over on July 1st, 2024. If you are not currently enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, you’ll need to apply for OHP Bridge manually through the federal Marketplace or Oregon’s ONE system. If you’re interested in assistance with the application process or understanding your benefits, our team of assisters is available to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Insurance Enrollment team using the contact information below:
Call/Fax: (503) 345-7031
Email: oea@projectaccessnow.org
