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Welcome to the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool Web site. Oregon has
placed great emphasis on the issues surrounding health care for many
years. Innovative ideas and creative thinking to find solutions for
uninsured Oregonians have always been a priority. The Oregon Medical
Insurance Pool is one part of that overall strategy.
The 1987 Oregon Legislature established the Oregon Medical Insurance
Pool (OMIP) as a quasi-private agency. In 1989, the Pool became a state
agency, received funding and a seven-member board was appointed. One
million dollars in General Fund money was put into the Pool to begin
operation. In February 1990, an administering insurer was selected and
the first policy was issued in July 1990.
The Pool has continued to grow and evolve with the changing needs of
Oregon's population and with the requirements of health care reform.
When the Pool was first established, its goal was to provide health
benefit plans to Oregonians unable to purchase individual health
insurance because of health conditions.
OMIP has expanded its mission to include not only medical
eligibility, but also a portability option. The Pool offers four health
benefit plans to choose from for either medical or portability eligible
applicants. All four plans are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Plans with different co-insurance, deductible, and maximum out-of
pocket amounts. Every effort is made to provide members the premium
reduction benefits of cost-containment features while providing the
highest quality of care.
While OMIP is not the ultimate solution to insurance access, it has
been the answer for more than 32,000 Oregonians who would have gone
without coverage without it.
Howard "Rocky" King
Administrator, Oregon Medical Insurance Pool
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