Lottery To Fill Open Spots In Oregon Health Plan Draws 'Overwhelming Response'

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 11 Mar 2008 - 6:00 PST

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Oregon last week began drawing names in a statewide lottery to fill 3,000 open slots in the Oregon Health Plan, the Los Angeles Times reports. The program was closed to new applicants in 2004 because of budget constraints, but department officials reopened the program to new beneficiaries in February. The program's standard plan covers basic health care services and medications, as well as some dental, hospital and vision services. Individual premiums range from zero to $20 per month, and about 18,000 residents are enrolled in the program, the Times reports.

Karen House, manager of self-sufficiency medical programs at the Oregon Department of Human Services, said that the state chose a lottery system to randomly select the new beneficiaries "particularly knowing we would not have the funds to cover everyone." There are an estimated 600,000 uninsured residents in Oregon, and 91,675 residents have signed up for the lottery since it was announced last month.

Ellen Pinney, director of the Oregon Health Action Campaign, said, "To think that that many people signed up is unbelievable," adding that the response should "show our lawmakers the incredible need that is out there" for health coverage. She said some people think the lottery is an "absolutely ridiculous" way to make coverage decisions, "But what is any other state doing to give access to at least some of the uninsured?" (Glascock, Los Angeles Times, 3/10).

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