Outreach, Enrollment & 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, we started a pilot project to provide outreach and health insurance enrollment services with a focus on low-income families. The pilot grew to become our Outreach, Enrollment & Access Program.
How It Works
Our team of certified application assisters works at various community sites around the Portland Metro tri-county area and Yamhill County to help families and individuals enroll in the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and Qualified Health Plans (QHP) with a special focus on low-income people who may not realize they qualify for health insurance or face too many barriers to sign up without help.
The Outreach, Enrollment & Access program also provides Premium Assistance resources for a limited number of clients who earn too much money to qualify for Oregon Health Plan but too little to be able to afford the premiums and out-of-pocket costs associated with their marketplace health insurance plan.
The Premium Assistance clients earn below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level and qualify for a tax credit through the Federal Marketplace. Project Access NOW leverages their tax credit to offset their premium costs and pays the remaining balance ourselves. Clients’ deductible and co-pays may also be reduced depending on where they receive services.
By the Numbers
Since its inception, the Outreach, Enrollment & 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 programs has 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.
Contact Outreach, Enrollment & Access
Program Staff
- Multnomah County: Katia Ariceaga, Program Supervisor – (971) 319-2148 | email
- Yamhill County:
Main Office
- By phone: (503) 345-7031
