BEND, OR -- The timeframe to sign up for individual health coverage is shorter this year - open enrollment runs from November 1-December 15, for those seeking insurance through the individual marketplace. Medicare open enrollment is October 15-December 7.
The state will host local workshops next week, in Madras, Prineville and Bend. Insurance Field Officer Miranda Mathae leads the "Health Insurance 101" events. She tells KBND News, "'Health Insurance 101' is about giving the public the information and the resources that they need to be able to access health insurance." She adds, "In the workshop, what we cover is what the different health insurance options in the state of Oregon are, and under each individual type of insurance, how health insurance works."
Mathae says this year's 45-day enrollment period is much shorter than before, which means it's important to get health insurance figured out sooner rather than later. "The new time frame to enroll in a qualified health plan is now November first through December 15. Last year, it was through the end of January."
Local workshops take place Monday, October 2:
- 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Jefferson County Library (241 SE 7th St. Madras)
- 2:30-3:30 p.m. - Crook County Library (175 NW Meadow Lakes Dr. Prineville)
- 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Deschutes Public Library (62080 Dean Swift Rd. Bend)
- A second event at the Bend library will take place 11:30-12:30, October 25.
To register, call 855-268-3767, email info.marketplace@oregon.gov or click HERE.
