Health Coverage for all Oregon Kids

Governor Kulongoski announces the Healthy Kid Plan, open to all uninsured children:

February 5, 2010


All Oregon Children Now Have Access to Health Care, Over 30,000 Already Enrolled

(Salem) — Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced that all Oregon children now have access to high-quality, comprehensive health care under the state’s Healthy Kids plan, realizing one of his top priorities since taking office.

Healthy Kids was passed by the legislature during the 2009 session and has been implemented in phases over the last six months. This week, the Oregon Department of Human Services began providing coverage to families under Healthy KidsConnect, the final phase of Healthy Kids.

Healthy Kids provides access to health care in three ways: 1) No-cost option through the Oregon Health Plan (OHP); 2) Low-cost options through cost-share models; and 3) Full-cost options through newly-created state-sponsored private insurance plans – depending on family income.

No Cost: The plan provides free coverage through the Oregon Health Plan for children in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($44,100 for a family of four).

Low-Cost: The program offers a cost-share model to assist Oregon’s middle-class families earning between 200 -300 percent of the federal poverty level (between $44,100 – $66,000 a year for a family of four). These families earn too much to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan, but too little to purchase private insurance on their own. On a sliding scale, these families share the cost with the state or can receive a subsidy to help pay for their child’s coverage through an employer-sponsored insurance plan.

Full Cost: For children in families with incomes above 300 percent of the federal poverty level (or $66,000 for a family of four), the program provides access to a new state-sponsored private insurance plans collectively called Healthy KidsConnect. These families pay the full premium.

To date, the state has enrolled more than 30,000 children in Healthy Kids. The goal is to enroll 80,000 children by the end of this year.

Parents can learn more about Healthy Kids and apply online at www.oregonhealthykids.gov or by calling 1-877-314-5678.