The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion program was implemented in 2013, and gave all states in the U.S. the chance to accept or decline participation. Luckily for Oregon, the ACA Medicaid expansion was accepted, which meant great things for many Oregon residents. The purpose of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion was to widen the income bracket for eligibility, so that more applicants could be accommodated for affordable healthcare coverage. Oregon is one of the 31 states to participate in new Affordable Care Act eligibility, which means that the number of petitioners who receive coverage has increased dramatically. Once officials learned the Obamacare Medicaid expansion details and that the ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states like Oregon would not hurt the medical budget, the wheels were set in motion for new applicants to determine eligibility. This expansion was extremely beneficial for applicants who were denied coverage under the previous eligibility rules and requirements, but who found themselves eligible under the new rules. Most established applicants will find that the ACA expansion for Medicaid does not influence their coverage; only new applicants will find the changes to be beneficial. The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion has helped the residents of Oregon find affordable healthcare options for medically necessary treatments and services. The new Obamacare Medicaid expansion increased the number of people covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, by almost 350,000 from 2013 to 2017. For those potential applicants wondering, “What is the expansion of Medicaid in Oregon and how has it affected the state as a whole?” continue reviewing the information below.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Oregon

The Oregon ACA Medicaid expansion launched in the fall of 2013 and provided an enrollment increase of 75 percent. This increase is drastically higher than the ACA expansion of Medicaid national average of 27 percent. Oregon is one of the very few states that used a fast-track enrollment process for Affordable Care Act Medicaid eligibility, which included gathering information on Oregon residents who already participated in state-run programs. Since the ACA expansion focused primarily on income requirements, and both income and immigration eligibility were already provided through the other programs, these petitioners were fast-tracked for approval for Medicaid coverage. For those applicants, an Affordable Care Act Medicaid application was not necessary. Over 300,000 residents were sent a letter about the fast-track enrollment, and those who filled out the enclosed form and mailed it back were automatically enrolled in Medicaid.

What does opting in for the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Oregon?

By accepting ACA Medicaid expansion in Oregon, residents were able to verify their eligibility with the new income bracket to determine if they could be eligible for benefits. In addition, the Obamacare Medicaid expansion allowed for adult applicants not previously eligible the chance to be eligible, simply through income verification. So, what is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion return for the state of Oregon? Opting in to the Medicaid expansion program meant that Oregon was allowed to offer Medicaid eligibility to residents with incomes up to 138 of the federal poverty level. For pregnant women and infants, this number increased to 185 percent, and the CHIP program became available for children in households with income up to 300 percent of the poverty level. The reduction of the number of uninsured applicants in Oregon dropped by 62 percent from 2013 to 2015. This Medicaid expansion comes after decades of ups and downs for the Medicaid program in Oregon due to budgetary concerns, with an income maximum of only 100 percent of the poverty level in 1994. When the ACA Medicaid expansion was enacted a few years ago, the federal government paid the entire cost of the expansion through 2016, with at least 90 percent of coverage taken care of for new applicants. To read more about requirements for Medicaid, download our free guide.

Will the Oregon Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion ever be repealed?

Many residents wonder, “Will the Medicaid expansion program be repealed?” In truth, there are no definite answers to if ACA Medicaid expansion will be cancelled, especially with the legal logistics that would accompany such a move. However, if the Affordable Care Act expansion for Medicaid was to be repealed, then the old rules would apply for eligibility, and nearly 350,000 applicants would be without healthcare. It is important for all Medicaid applicants to stay on top of the information for Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in order to avoid any unnecessary surprises. Download our comprehensive guide to review more details about the ACA Medicaid expansion.