Salem, Oregon (KTVZ) – The annual open enrollment period for health insurance begins November 1st. Open enrollment is the only time when people who are not offered coverage by a job or public programs such as Oregon health insurance or Medicare can enroll. Health insurance is often purchased with financial assistance through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace.

Eligibility rules changed this year to make health insurance more affordable for thousands of Oregonians, according to the OHA.

Previously, people who were provided with health insurance through their spouse or parent’s employer could not access financial assistance if the cheapest plan offered only to employees was deemed affordable. The new rules allow people who were previously not eligible for financial assistance through the marketplace to do so if that coverage is deemed out of reach for the subscriber.

“If you weren’t eligible for financial aid before, apply again,” says Tiki Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “Nearly 80% of Oregonians who applied for financial assistance were able to qualify in 2022 at an average of $483 a month. It could be you!”

Sorting through health insurance options can be confusing, but Oregonians should know they have the tools. OregonHealthCare.gov offers a quick and easy-to-use window shopping tool that allows users to preview available plans and discounts. The tool also allows users to see which plans cover prescription drugs and are networked with their preferred doctors and hospitals. A new tool available at OregonHealthCare.gov can help determine if work-based insurance is considered affordable.

Free expert assistance is available to make the process of signing up for health insurance and choosing a plan less stressful. Licensed insurance agents and trained community groups can be found at OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp.

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The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, part of the state government, helps people get health insurance if they don’t have occupation-based insurance and aren’t eligible for the Oregon Health Plan or other programs . Marketplace is a state-level partner of HealthCare.gov. For more information, visit OregonHealthCare.gov.