The State of the Uninsured in Portland
One-in-Six Portland Residents Lack Health Insurance
Approximately one in every in six Portland metropolitan resident lacks access to health insurance coverage. That’s 250,00 uninsured people. Who are the Uninsured? One in every eight is a child under 18; one in every five is a working-aged adult.
Lack of medical coverage creates barriers to accessing timely, affordable and appropriate care. Despite the fact that many uninsured people are working, they are not covered by employer-sponsored benefits, cannot afford to pay for benefits on their own and do not qualify for government insurance programs.
Dying for Coverage in Oregon shares information about excess deaths of Oregonians as a result of lack of health insurance.
The OPS Summary provides a brief summary of the State of Oregon’s uninsured population. You can also read more extensive findings and research methods in this Profile of Oregon’s Unisured by the Office for Oregon Health Policy and Research
What is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)?
Medicaid / OHP Eligibility Facts
Factors leading to growing uninsured population
- Lack of employer sponsored health insurance
- Oregon Health Plan Cutbacks
- Income Eligibility Requirements for Medicaid
Impact on the Patient, Community & Systems
- Lack of consistent primary care
- Increased Emergency Department Utilization
- Difficulty in obtaining specialty care
- Failure to fill prescriptions
- Poor Health Outcomes
Quick Facts about Oregon’s Uninsured
From: Heidi Allen, Oregon Health Research and Evaluation Collaborative (OHREC)
- From February 2003 to August 2006, the number of enrollees (termed ’eligibles’ by the state) in OHP Standard population fell from 88,874 to 21,678. Source: DHS website
- In Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, and Yamhill counties , 265,914 adults are uninsured, representing 16.5 percent of the total adult population in those counties. Source: Available at Oregon Population Survey (OPS), 2004
- 17.0% of the total Oregon population is uninsured, representing 491,791 adults age nineteen or above, and 117,250 children, eighteen or below. Source: OPS 2004
- In Oregon, of the uninsured, 61% are employed. Source: OPS 2004
- In Oregon, those who self-identify as Spanish, Hispanic or Latino are twice as likely to be uninsured as the general population. Source: OPS 2004
- Since July 1st, 2004 OHP Standard has been closed to new enrollees. Source: Oregon Office of Health Policy and Research
There is a great study that describes the impact of OHP changes on adults in the expansion population; you can access their report at: Impact of OHP Program Changes
If you need more information, or if you want to browse, we have multiple publications on our website at: OHREC
I have read and aprreciate that we have some clinics that are really concerned with people and not just the money. I have come to believe that sometimes we receive treatment or medication that we really dont need but ofcourse will swell the bill. I look forward to using one of the clinics provided here as I am uninsured and really need medical attention. Thanks
It is a shame that there are so many of us citizens that are uninsured, including myself. I have been without healtcare coverage for 7 years. Two factors have contributed to this. One, I went throug divorce and also must stay at home to care for my adult disabled son (aquired brain injury). I have not been able to pay for out of pocket insurance premiums because our income is low. While this is true, I do not qualify for OHP. This does not make sense to me. If we are just getting by, how is it that I don't qualify?? After rent, utilities,auto insurance, groceries, etc. $1,811 mo. there isn't alot left to pay for insurance. I have researched premiums and all are out of reach for me. I have had swelling and pain in my ear for 1 year now and have not been able to have this problem resolved. Everyday I wake my ear and head has pain. I am sure there are thousands of others with similar needs. Legislation needs to take a long hard look at the numbers and realize that preventative medicine saves the state and government more that emergency care. "Healthcare equality for all" thank you