The Oregon State Legislature recently passed House Bill 2116 which establishes a 1 percent assessment on health insurance premiums to provide health coverage for 80,000 children and 75,000 low-income adults.

On Aug. 4, 2009, the Governor signed this bill.

With the governor's signature, medical insurance carriers will be required to pay a 1 percent assessment based on the gross amount of premiums collected by the insurer during each calendar quarter effective October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2013. This bill allows insurers to include the 1 percent assessment in their rates beginning October 1, 2009.

The decision to add an additional 1 percent assessment on medical insurance premiums was not made by the OEBB Board. This assessment is being applied by the legislature to all health insurance plans throughout Oregon, not just OEBB carriers.

Previously published rates on the OEBB Web site have been changed to include the 1 percent assessment. Please disregard any previous versions of OEBB rate documents and use those currently posted under the "2009 Rates" tab below. The latest version is posted with a revision date of June 30, 2009.

If you have questions for OEBB, please call (888) 4My-OEBB (888-469-6322) or e-mail oebb.info@state.or.us.