Explore Health will replace HealthCare.gov, improving access to financial assistance and quality health coverage.
SALEM, Ore.–Oregon has received conditional approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to launch Explore Health, Oregon’s new health insurance marketplace for people who do not have coverage through their job or a medical program like the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), Medicare, or Veterans Affairs (VA) programs.
Beginning Nov. 1, 2026, people in Oregon can use Explore Health to shop for health coverage, find out if they qualify for financial assistance and enroll in a Marketplace plan. The launch marks Oregon’s transition from a federally managed platform to a state-based marketplace and gives the state greater flexibility to respond to the needs of Oregon consumers and communities.
“This approval is an important step toward improving the shopping and customer service experience for people in Oregon who use the Marketplace,” said Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. “Explore Health will give Oregon the flexibility to design a Marketplace experience around the needs of our diverse communities and respond to local data, feedback, and changes in federal policy.”
More information about Explore Health, Open Enrollment and how consumers can get help will be available in the coming weeks at ExploreHealthOR.gov.
About Explore Health
The development of Explore Health follows direction from the Oregon Legislature (Senate Bill 972, 2023) and reflects an opportunity to create a marketplace that is responsive to the needs of Oregon consumers, strengthens the state’s approach to connecting people with affordable health coverage, and supports a more coordinated and accessible experience for people seeking coverage.
The transition to Explore Health is informed by the experiences of Oregon consumers, community organizations, health care partners, insurance companies, agents, and partners who understand the state’s health coverage landscape. Feedback from these partners has helped shape how the marketplace will be designed, communicated and delivered, with a focus on making the experience as accessible, understandable and useful as possible.
For more information, including opportunities for partners, community organizations and members of the public to provide input, visit https://orhim.info/sbmtransition.
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