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Oregon Health Insurance for Children

Oregon parents have many options for insuring their children. The combination of state and federal laws between 2009 and 2010 expand the availability of affordable comprehensive coverage for children, as well as eliminate private health insurance discrimination of pre-existing conditions.

  1. The Healthy Kids Legislation

    • In 2009, the Oregon legislation established House Bill 2116 as law. Known as "The Healthy Kids Legislation," the law works with other Oregon laws to provide health insurance coverage for almost all Oregon children by taxing health insurance premiums and state hospitals to expand free and low-cost Medicaid availability to children in families with household incomes of up to 300 percent of the federal poverty limit.

    Medicaid

    • Oregon's Medicaid program is both state and federally funded. The federal government requires all states that participate in the Medicaid program to cover qualifying individuals part of one or more of the mandatory eligibility groups. Children are a mandatory eligibility group, and those age 18 or under receive automatic Medicaid health coverage if they meet the income thresholds set by the state. In Oregon, children under age five qualify with household incomes of 133 percent or less of the federal poverty limit. Older children can still qualify for coverage with a household income at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty limit.

    SCHIP

    • Uninsured children in Oregon from households with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid may qualify for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. Like Medicaid, acceptance into SCHIP depends on income, but applicants are approved with incomes as high as 300 percent of the federal poverty level, although children in families with higher incomes may buy into the program. SCHIP provides comprehensive health benefits that include primary care, hospital visits, emergency health services, vision and dental.

    Private Coverage

    • Oregon children without access to state-funded health programs have expanded access to private health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act. The 2010 law prohibits any insurer from denying coverage to children due to pre-existing conditions. Additionally, all health insurance policies must provide free preventive care with no cost-sharing responsibilities for the parent. This includes coverage for routine childhood vaccinations, well-child checks and vision screenings.

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