The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, Explained
Key Takeaways
- ✓New website on November 1. Oregon’s Marketplace is now Explore Health, at ExploreHealthOR.gov. HealthCare.gov still handles 2026 coverage.
- ✓December 31 is the date that matters. Enroll by then and your plan starts January 1, 2027.
- ✓Four insurers, but not in every county. Six counties have only two.
- ✓Prices are up. The state approved an average increase of 21.6% for 2027.
- ✓Providence and PacificSource are gone from this market. If you had one of their Marketplace plans, the state matched you to a plan from another insurer. Check it before you accept it.
- ✓Three plan levels, not five. Oregon insurers are selling Bronze, Silver, and Gold for 2027. No Platinum and no Catastrophic plans.
Oregon's New Marketplace: Explore Health
Yes, Oregon now has its own Marketplace. Starting with 2027 coverage, Oregonians apply and enroll at ExploreHealthOR.gov instead of HealthCare.gov.
What stays the same: you still fill out one application, find out what help you qualify for, and pick a plan. If your income qualifies for the Oregon Health Plan or OHP Bridge, your application is sent there instead.
Already have a Marketplace plan? Here’s what to expect:
- ✓Your information moves over. The Marketplace says current enrollees will get information about renewing before open enrollment starts.
- ✓You can window-shop first. A tool called the Plan Guide lets you compare 2027 plans without an account. The state says it opens in mid-October 2026.
- ✓Starting November 1, you can sign in to Explore Health, update your application, and choose a plan.
- ✓Renewal may be automatic. Explore Health may renew you if you’re still eligible and you don’t pick a new plan. Don’t count on it to pick the best one for you.
Need a person? Explore Health’s phone line is 855-268-3767.
Obamacare vs the Marketplace: What's the Difference?
There isn’t one. “Obamacare” is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the law that created the Marketplace. Marketplace plans, ACA plans, and Obamacare plans all mean the same thing.
Dates and Deadlines
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mid-October 2026 | The Plan Guide opens so you can compare 2027 plans |
| November 1, 2026 | Open enrollment starts on Explore Health |
| December 31, 2026 | Last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2027 |
| January 15, 2027 | Open enrollment ends |
These are Oregon’s published dates as of October 8, 2026. Oregon’s January 1 deadline is later than the December 15 cutoff many people remember from HealthCare.gov.
Miss open enrollment and you generally wait until next year, unless you have a qualifying life event.
Who Sells Marketplace Plans in Oregon for 2027?
Providence and PacificSource are leaving Oregon’s individual market at the end of 2026. Four insurers remain for 2027.
| Insurer | Counties served | Average approved increase | Portland Silver plan, age 40, monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| BridgeSpan | All 36 | 19.3% | $734 |
| Regence BlueCross BlueShield | All 36 | 20.3% | $708 |
| Moda | 28 | 27% | $706 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 11 | 15.8% | $599 |
Source: Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, final 2027 rates. Prices shown are full price, before any help paying. The average increase across all four is 21.6%.
How many choices you have depends on your county:
| Your county | Insurers for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Lane, Linn, Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill | All four |
| Marion, Polk | BridgeSpan, Kaiser, Regence |
| Crook, Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, Umatilla, Union | BridgeSpan and Regence only |
| The other 19 counties | BridgeSpan, Moda, Regence |
Kaiser covers only part of Benton, Lane, Linn, and Hood River counties, so check your ZIP code.
Oregon’s Marketplace, Explore Health, is where you apply, see what help you qualify for, and compare plans for 2027.
Want free local help? Oregon’s Marketplace lists free local helpers here: healthcare.oregon.gov/Pages/find-help.aspx
If You Had Providence, PacificSource, or Moda
Your 2026 plan may not exist next year. Three groups are affected:
- ✓Providence members. Providence won’t sell individual plans in 2027.
- ✓PacificSource members. Same story.
- ✓Moda members in eight counties. Moda won’t be available in Crook, Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, Marion, Polk, Umatilla, or Union counties.
As of June 30, 2026, Providence and PacificSource together covered about 47,700 Oregonians in individual plans.
Here’s the part most people miss. If you bought your plan through the Marketplace, the state has already matched you with a 2027 plan from another insurer, and that match may be used to re-enroll you automatically if you don’t choose something else.
That’s a safety net. It isn’t a recommendation. Before you let it ride:
- 1
Look up your matched plan on Explore Health or call 855-268-3767.
- 2
Check the new plan’s network for your doctors and hospital.
- 3
Check the price. A different insurer means a different premium, and your help paying may change too.
- 4
Compare the other plans in your county before December 31.
Bought your Providence or PacificSource plan directly from the insurer, not through the Marketplace? Don’t assume you were matched. Your coverage ends December 31, 2026, so choose a 2027 plan yourself.
Had Providence Medicare Advantage instead? That’s a different page: what Providence Medicare members should do.
Bronze, Silver, Gold: The Plan Levels
Marketplace plans come in metal levels. The level has nothing to do with the quality of care. It’s about how you and the plan split costs.
| Level | Plan pays (about) | You pay (about) | Monthly premium | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 60% | 40% | Lowest | Highest |
| Silver | 70% | 30% | Middle | Middle |
| Gold | 80% | 20% | Highest | Lowest |
Two things are different in Oregon for 2027:
- ✓No Platinum plans. Oregon’s Marketplace lists three tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
- ✓No Catastrophic plans. Oregon insurers aren’t offering them for 2027.
Every insurer also sells an Oregon Standard plan at each level. Standard plans cover office visits before you meet the deductible, and they include three office visits at $5 each. Because the design is the same from insurer to insurer, they’re the easiest plans to compare side by side.
Help Paying for Coverage
Two kinds of help come through the Marketplace:
- ✓Premium tax credits lower your monthly bill. For 2027, you can qualify if your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
- ✓Cost-sharing reductions lower your deductible and copays. They’re available on eligible Silver plans.
The 400% line is a hard stop for 2027. The temporary rule that let people above it get help ended after 2025. Here’s where the line falls:
| Household size | 400% of the poverty level (yearly income) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $132,000 |
Earn one dollar over and the tax credit goes to zero, so it pays to estimate your income carefully. See health insurance subsidies. Self-employed? Read coverage for the self-employed.
Have an offer of coverage at work? For 2027, employer coverage generally counts as affordable if the employee-only plan costs less than 10.22% of household income. If it does, you usually can’t get Marketplace help.
The Oregon Health Plan and OHP Bridge
When you apply, the Marketplace checks whether you qualify for coverage through the state first.
| Program | Who it covers | Income limit, one person | Income limit, family of four |
|---|---|---|---|
| OHP Plus (adults) | Adults up to 138% of the poverty level | $1,836 a month | $3,795 a month |
| OHP Bridge | Adults above that, up to 200% | $31,920 a year | $66,000 a year |
If the Marketplace finds you may qualify for OHP, it sends your information there for a final decision. You can still buy a Marketplace plan, but at full price with no help paying. More on the Oregon Health Plan.
Enrolling Outside Open Enrollment
Certain life events open a special enrollment period, usually 60 days from the event.
| Event | What to know |
|---|---|
| Losing other coverage | Apply up to 60 days before it ends or within 60 days after |
| Losing the Oregon Health Plan | You get longer: up to 90 days after it ends |
| Getting married | You or your spouse must have had coverage in the 60 days before |
| Moving | Includes a move to a new county or ZIP code in Oregon. You’ll need proof of the move and of prior coverage. |
| Having or adopting a baby | Coverage can start on the date of birth or adoption |
Dropping your coverage by choice, or losing it because you didn’t pay, usually doesn’t count. More on special enrollment.
Free Help, and Who Can Recommend a Plan
Oregon’s Marketplace connects you with two kinds of helpers, and both are free.
| Helper | What they do | Can they recommend a specific plan? |
|---|---|---|
| Assisters | Trained staff at community organizations who help you apply and enroll. They don’t represent insurance companies. | No |
| Insurance agents | Licensed professionals who help you compare plans and enroll | Yes. Only insurance agents can. |
One honest note the Marketplace makes itself: insurance agents may be paid by insurance companies. That’s normal, and it’s fair to ask about. Find either kind of helper through Explore Health or at healthcare.oregon.gov/Pages/find-help.aspx.
FAQs
Does Oregon have its own health insurance marketplace?
Yes. Starting with 2027 coverage, Oregon uses its own site, Explore Health, at ExploreHealthOR.gov. Enrollment there starts November 1, 2026.
When is open enrollment for 2027 health insurance in Oregon?
November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 31, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1.
What's the difference between Obamacare and Marketplace insurance?
None. Obamacare is a nickname for the Affordable Care Act, the law that created the Marketplace.
Which insurance companies sell Marketplace plans in Oregon for 2027?
BridgeSpan, Kaiser Permanente, Moda, and Regence. BridgeSpan and Regence sell in all 36 counties, Moda in 28, and Kaiser in 11.
What happens to my Providence or PacificSource plan?
It ends December 31, 2026. If you enrolled through the Marketplace, you've been matched to a plan from another insurer and may be re-enrolled in it automatically. Compare your options before December 31 rather than taking the match on faith.
How much is health insurance in Oregon in 2027?
It depends on your age, county, and plan. As one benchmark, the state's final rates for a 40-year-old in Portland on a Silver plan run from $599 to $734 a month at full price, before any help paying.
What is the best health insurance in Oregon?
The plan whose network includes your doctors and whose costs fit your budget. For 2027, your choices come from BridgeSpan, Kaiser, Moda, and Regence, depending on your county.
What is the maximum income to qualify for the Oregon Health Plan?
For adults, OHP Plus goes up to 138% of the poverty level, which is $1,836 a month for one person. OHP Bridge covers adults above that, up to 200%, or $31,920 a year for one person.
Do I qualify for OHP Plus if I make $21,888 a year?
For a single adult, $21,888 a year is $1,824 a month, which is under the $1,836 monthly limit. The state makes the final decision based on your household and your income in the month you apply.
Can I get a subsidy on a Marketplace plan?
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the poverty level and you meet the other rules, yes. For one person, 400% is $63,840 for 2027 coverage.
Does Oregon sell catastrophic health plans?
Not for 2027. Oregon insurers aren't offering Catastrophic plans, and the Marketplace lists only Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Can I see 2027 plans before November 1?
Yes. The state says its Plan Guide opens in mid-October 2026 and lets you compare plans without creating an account.
Oregon’s Marketplace, Explore Health, is where you apply, see what help you qualify for, and compare plans for 2027.
Want free local help? Oregon’s Marketplace lists free local helpers here: healthcare.oregon.gov/Pages/find-help.aspx
How We Got These Numbers
Insurers, counties, rate changes, and sample premiums come from the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation’s final 2027 rate documents. Dates, plan levels, and enrollment rules come from Oregon’s Marketplace. Income limits come from the Oregon Health Authority and the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, which are the guidelines used for 2027 Marketplace help.
- Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, 2027 rate and county coverage
- Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, quarterly enrollment report
- Oregon Health Authority, Oregon to launch Explore Health (August 21, 2026)
- Explore Health, key dates
- Explore Health, health plans
- Explore Health, financial help
- Explore Health, automatic re-enrollment and plan matching
- Explore Health, renewal
- Explore Health, qualifying life events
- Explore Health, get help
- Explore Health, FAQs
- Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace
- HealthCare.gov, The Marketplace in your state
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan categories
- IRS, Questions and answers on the premium tax credit
- HHS, 2026 poverty guidelines
- Oregon Health Authority, OHP Bridge
- ODHS and OHA, Combined Standards (OHP income limits)
- Cambia Health Solutions, health plans
