The State of the Uninsured in Portland
One-in-Six Portland Residents Lack Health Insurance
Approximately one-quarter of a million (250,000) residents of the Portland metropolitan area lack access to health insurance coverage. This translates to one in six residents without insurance coverage. Who are the Uninsured? One in eight children under 18, and one in five working-age adults 18-64 were uninsured in 2006.
It is widely accepted that lack of coverage creates barriers to accessing timely, affordable and appropriate care. Despite the fact that many of these people are working, they are not covered by employer-sponsored benefits, cannot afford to pay for them on their own and do not qualify for government insurance programs.
This report from Families USA shares information about excess deaths of Oregonians as a result of lack of health insurance. Dying for Coverage in Oregon
A brief summary of the state of Oregon’s uninsured population is herein the OPS Summary Or You can read more extensive findings and research methods in this 39 page Profile of Oregon’s Unisured Oregon Population Survey 2006
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 been off OHP since 2000, because my husband is a 100% disabled Veteran, and we went over the OHP guidelines by 50.00 when he went on the VA Disability Income..before that, we both were on OHP but just the little more he made on Disability, made me lose all health Ins. Here is is 12/07 and I still do not have Ins. My husband does, and always has through the VA, but they do not insure me..I have a low-income clinic, use Wal Mart for Rx's, but now am faced with teeth problems that spirling our of control..I have had some work done, but even at a "discount" I cannot afford all that I need either medically or dentally..We are soon moving to the Salem area and I will try to find low income medical help as I am on medication for Fibromyalgia, Osteo-Arthritis and 2 crushed Vertebrae..my pain is awful at times but we have always tried to make sure I get the meds. I need, but I am now worried most about losing my teeth..I am 61 and not near Medicare age, not able to work, husband with hepatitis C and needs my care at home..terrible situation sometimes..we do make 1,842. a month, but after rent, vehicle, medical, utilities and food, there is not much left for me to work on my teeth..something needs to be done to help those of us in Oregon who once had such a great program (OHP) and now it is all but gone for most people. I know 1 woman who has lied about her income because she can hide it, she is very ill and has probably cost the state of oregon about 2 million in the past 7 years she has lived in this state. I would not turn her in because I feel she will get found out sometime anyway but I can see on the Nurses faces when she goes in with her respiratory problems smelling like cigarette smoke and they know she is costing the public so much money and does not care..I am sure there are many cases like that out there who have slipped under the line of the program..then people like me must still suffer because we are honest..thank you
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