Current Oregon insurance issues as of February 2010Oregon insurance affordability and availability issues belie the state's image of progressiveness and inclusivity.
I think the popular image of Oregon is that it's a progressive state. Portland is one of those cities that you mention in the same breath as San Francisco or Seattle. Moreover, this state has legalized assisted suicide. You find that what typically goes hand in hand with progressive is good health and Oregon does not disappoint. It ranks 10th in prevalence of smoking, 3rd in lack of preventable hospitalizations and 9th in infant mortality. However, the entire picture is not perfect. This quintessentially West Coast state is downright southern in numbers of uninsured residents. In 2009, it was reported to have over 1.1 million in 2007 and 2008. It also faces the typical problems with rising health insurance premiums. An additional negative twist to this story are the high amounts that uninsured Oregonians pay for prescription drugs. At least one drug cost 520 percent more than it would at a Canadian pharmacy. Because of the backlog for getting onto the state's Medicaid plan, an unusual but familiar-sounding apparatus is being used to allow eveyone a shot at siging on sooner. The state is using a lottery.
Do you have a different opinion of health coverage in this state?Health coverage policies and laws obviously can change. If your experience with getting health coverage is different than what is written above, or if you just want to share your experiences with health coverage, please feel free. |