From all of us at Project Access NOW, we wish you and your family health and safety as we work together to contain the spread of COVID-19. As efforts to contain the outbreak continue, we would like to encourage our clients to follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidelines:
Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick (CDC)
COVID-19 Information flyers in multiple languages (OHA)
Our team is primarily working from home. We have set up systems to assist our community remotely — via phone, email, and other means. While the situation is quickly evolving, we are committed to continuing to provide the highest level of service possible. We are working with partners, such as TV Jam, to reach our Spanish-speaking audience.
In the coming months, the OEA team will be a valuable resource for clients seeking assistance for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and other health insurance resources such as the Health Insurance Marketplace. We are able to provide assistance via phone and documents can be sent using email, fax, and other electronic means.
To get help from the OEA team:
Call or Fax: 503-345-7031
Email: oea@projectaccessnow.org
Please note: Due to the high volume of calls and emails, we may take some extra time to respond to your inquiry. You will receive a response – your patience is appreciated during this unprecedented time.
Assistance is available in English, Spanish / Español, and Russian / русский
Outreach, Enrollment, and Access
An important part of our mission is working to get everyone who qualifies enrolled in and able to use their health insurance.
In January of 2015, a pilot program was started to provide health insurance enrollment services and outreach to families qualified for Medicaid, or in Oregon, Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Three months in, the pilot program had helped over 3,000 people apply for Medicaid.
The pilot eventually became the Outreach, Enrollment, and Access program (OEA), which enrolls more families in Medicaid and Health Insurance Marketplace plans than any other enrollment organization in Oregon.
Health insurance can be difficult to navigate, which is why the OEA team put a special focus on low-income people who may not realize they qualify for health insurance, face too many barriers to sign up without help, or in many cases, both.
How It Works
The OEA team of certified application assisters helps families and individuals enroll in Oregon Health Plan and Health Insurance Marketplace plans at multiple sites in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties.
The Outreach, Enrollment, and Access team is ready to help
Assistance doesn’t stop once the application is submitted. The OEA team also guides applicants in using their benefits and staying covered.
By the Numbers
Since its inception, the Outreach, Enrollment, and Access Program has assisted over 50,000 households in applying for health insurance through Oregon Health Plan and the Federal Marketplace. To assure that people can actually use the coverage they have, we’re also proud to offer health literacy and navigation services.
The positive impact of this program is growing:
In 2017, we served 573 households and 770 individuals; in the first six months of 2018, the program served 599 households and 770 individuals, leveraging tax credits to offset the premium costs and often writing off the remaining balances.
While the need for this service still far exceeds the help we’re able to provide, every single individual and household we’re able to serve is one less person who won’t be forced to make the awful decision between paying their premiums and paying for groceries or rent.
