Oregon is considered a "blue state" but this is primarily because
there are 2 "ultrablue" voting areas (Portland and Eugene)
that essentially control national elections.
But the rest of the state is intensely "red",
and the GOP is well represented in the State legislature.
But poverty is spread across the state, and 15% of the 3.9 million
population fall in the legal definitions of qualifying for assistance.
This article is about sign-ups during the first 2 weeks of Obamacare:
The Oregonian
Nick Budnck
10/17/13
Oregon cuts tally of people lacking health insurance by 10 percent in two weeks
Quote:
Though Oregon's health insurance exchange is not yet up and running,
the number of uninsured is already dropping thanks to new fast-track enrollment for the Oregon Health Plan.
The low-income, Medicaid-funded program has already signed up 56,000 new people,
cutting the state's number of uninsured by 10 percent, according to Oregon Health Authority officials.
Since late September the Oregon Health Authority sent out notices to 260,000 people
already enrolled in the state's food stamps program since late October.
Under the new Oregon Health Plan income eligibility rules, in 2014 individuals
must earn 138 percent of the federal poverty level or less to qualify,
as compared to the 100 percent cutoff this year.
The new cap means monthly income of $1,322 for an individual,
$1,784 for a household of two, $2,247 for a household of three, and $2,704 for a family of four.
Many of the new enrollees are likely to have pent-up health needs.
A survey of 38,000 people on the Oregon Health Plan waiting list
in 2012 found 11 percent had diabetes, 8 percent heart problems,
30 percent high blood pressure, 22 percent high cholesterol and 5 percent cancer.
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