Oregon Group Health Insurance Plans

Oregon health insurance regulations are enforced by the state government in order to protect both the individual and Oregon health insurance providers. Group Oregon health insurance plans differ slightly from individual Oregon health insurance plans. With a group Oregon health insurance plan, an individual is guaranteed the right to a policy without regard to age, health or other factors deemed as risks by Oregon health insurance companies. Employers are required to offer the same plan choices to all of their employees that are eligible to receive Oregon health insurance through company policy. Employers can impose a waiting period before an employee can sign up for an Oregon health insurance policy, but this waiting period must be uniform inlength for all employees.

When applying for an Oregon health insurance group policy, it is illegal for an Oregon health insurance company to deny you coverage based on your health condition. Also, an Oregon health insurance company cannot raise one individual member’s monthly premium because of his or her illness or age. However, the Oregon health insurance company may choose to raise the premiums of all of the employees at the end of a term based on the number of high-risk policyholders there are that are included in the Oregon health insurance group policy.

With Oregon health insurance group plans, adopted children and newborn babies are required to be covered by their parent’s plan for the first thirty-one days. Anytime during that grace period, the Oregon health insurance policyholder can file the paperwork needed to permanently include the dependent on his or her Oregon health insurance plan. Oregon health insurance companies are also required to continue to provide uninterrupted coverage to employees who are taking up to twelve weeks off via the Family and Medical Leave Act. Disabled children of Oregon health insurance policyholders can indefinitely extend their dependent coverage past the normal age limitations if the parent is the sole source of support for the adult child.

Oregon health insurance pre-existing condition laws are quite similar to other states. For Oregon health insurance companies, pre-existing conditions are defined as those for which the policyholder received a diagnosis or treatment within the preceding six months before establishing the new Oregon health insurance policy. Group Oregon health insurance plans can only exclude pre-existing condition claims from coverage for up to six months, after which time they must begin paying on new claims relating to pre-existing ailments.

With individual plans, Oregon health insurance companies can initially use an individual’s health as a way of determining whether or not to accept an Oregon health insurance policy application. However, after an Oregon health insurance policy is issued, relative health cannot be used as a factor to increase insurance premiums. Only age can determine how much an Oregon health insurance company can raise its rates. By knowing your Oregon health insurance rights, you are better equipped to pick an Oregon health insurance company and benefit plan that suits your coverage needs and you budget. It is important to thoroughly understand Oregon health insurance benefits plans before committing one policy.

Oregon Group Health Insurance Plans

Insurance Resources

Insurance Articles