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Oregon Governor Signs Bill Expanding Coverage for Children

August 05, 2009

August 5, 2009: Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed the “Healthy Kids” bill yesterday, expanding insurance coverage for the state’s children. Through a 1% assessment on insurers and a 2.8% assessment on large hospitals, the legislation will extend coverage to an estimated 80,000 Oregon children currently without insurance.

Children up to age 19 with family income between 200% and 300% FPL will be eligible to receive premium assistance toward coverage through one of two insurance models: a cost-share model with employers, called the Oregon Health Plan, or a newly-created state-sponsored private insurance model. Children in families above 300% FPL will be able to buy into the private plan at the full, unsubsidized cost.

In addition to expanding coverage for children, Oregon’s new legislation creates the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Standard, a limited-benefit insurance option for the state’s estimated 60,000 childless adults with incomes below 100% FPL. The bill also simplifies the application and enrollment processes for state coverage and requires enhanced outreach to children in under-served communities.

Click here for further details about Oregon's Healthy Kids Legislation (House Bill 2116).

Click here to view a summary table of all states undertaking comprehensive coverage for children efforts.