What Are Health Insurance Marketplaces and Exchanges?
Exchanges or marketplaces are services that enable enrollment in insurance through a public or private forum. These forums are accessible through multiple portals and websites.
Oregon Private Exchanges vs Public Exchanges
Private Exchanges
The private exchange is designed for employers to allow employees to enroll in a preselected company health insurance plan. It is also where individuals and small businesses shop and enroll for coverage during the open enrollment window. Consulting firms or brokers typically run the private exchange utilized by an employer. The following carriers are available via private exchanges or third parties in Oregon:
- BridgeSpan Health Company
- Kaiser Permanente
- PacificSource Health Plans
- Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
- LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon
- Health Net Health Plan of Oregon, Inc.
Public Exchanges
The public exchange for Oregon is run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), at the federal level, after Governor Rick Perry opted for a federally-run marketplace when Obamacare was passed in 2015. When using the public exchange, your application will also verify if you qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or other discounts based on income level. The following carriers are available via the Oregon public exchange:
- Atrio Health Plans (limited to 5 counties)
- BridgeSpan
- Kaiser Permanente (limited to 10 counties)
- Moda
- PacificSource (limited to 6 counties)
- Providence Health Plan
- Zoom+ Performance Health Plan
Oregon Marketplace and Exchange Facts
