Updated: September 5, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceOregonBest Health Insurance in Oregon
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Oregon directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
Kaiser Permanente provides the best health insurance in Oregon with a MoneyGeek score of 62 out of 100. The insurer offers plans with low costs and manages claims well. The provider also has lower out-of-pocket costs compared with others.
For this study, we looked at a total of 26 health insurance plans in Oregon, comprising 23 Silver EPO plans and three Silver PPO plans.
Affordable premium rates
Diverse plan options available
Higher MOOP costs
Kaiser Permanente is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon. The provider has a denial rate of 8%, which is lower than most of the competition. The provider offers four Silver EPO plans at an average plan rate of $504 per month and an average MOOP cost of $9,113.
Kaiser Permanente's Silver EPO plans allow direct access to all specialists in the network without needing a referral.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plans:
PacificSource Health Plans has a MoneyGeek score of 79 out of 100, making it the best health insurance for low out-of-pocket costs in Oregon. Its plans have low MOOP costs, and it has a better claim approval rates compared with other insurers.
In Oregon, we looked at 18 Gold EPO plans and three Gold PPO plans.
Rarely denies claims
Low out-of-pocket maximum costs
Diverse plan options available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon for low out-of-pocket costs is PacificSource Health Plans. They offer three Gold PPO plans, which are known for lower out-of-pocket costs. PPO plans usually give you more choices for doctors and hospitals outside the plan's network.
On average, these plans cost $649 a month and an average MOOP cost of $7,767. PacificSource Health Plans has a denial rate of about 3%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Kaiser Permanente is the cheapest provider for health insurance in Oregon, with a MoneyGeek score of 76. Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest plan options, denies fewer claims compared with other providers and offers many types of plan options.
We evaluated 26 Silver plans in Oregon for this analysis, comprising 23 Silver EPO plans and three Silver PPO plans. MoneyGeek put more weight on plans with low monthly premiums when deciding the winner for this category. Plans with lower premiums often have higher out-of-pocket costs.
Offers affordable premium rates
Higher potential out-of-pocket costs
More frequent claim denials than average
Average amount of plan types available
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Oregon is Kaiser Permanente. They offer four Silver plans. They have an average plan rate of $504 and an average MOOP cost of $9,113. Kaiser Permanente has a denial rate of 8.5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
The Silver plans provided by Kaiser Permanente are all EPO plans. EPO plans may have lower costs when you go to doctors and hospitals in the plan’s network.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Kaiser Permanente scored 71 out of 100, offering the best health insurance in Oregon for people with low income. The provider offers plans with the lowest rates, a lower-than-average number of claim denials and multiple plan types available.
MoneyGeek evaluated 23 Silver CSR EPO plans and three Silver CSR PPO plans in Oregon. We placed more importance on low monthly premiums for the plans and included only those with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) when deciding the top health insurance for low-income people in Oregon. CSRs help lower what you pay out of your own pocket like your deductible, so you can pay less each month and still not have too much to pay when you need care.
While Silver plans usually cover about 70% of health costs, with CSRs, that amount changes based on what you earn in a year:
How much money you need to fall within these brackets can change if more people live in your home.
Low premium rates
Few claims denied
Variety of plan options available
Potentially higher MOOP costs
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon for people with low income is Kaiser Permanente. The provider offers cost-effective plans for people earning below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Kaiser Permanente provides four Silver CSR plans at an average rate of $504 per month and an average MOOP cost of $7,463. The company’s denial rate is 8.45%, meaning that it approves claims more frequently than its competitors.
Kaiser Permanente's top-rated plan offers lower out-of-pocket expenses for the same premium for people in different income brackets. The provider does not offer PPO or POS plans, but EPO plans typically have lower premiums.
Plan Recommendations
Here are some of the lower overall out-of-pocket costs based on income levels:
Kaiser Permanente offers the best health insurance in Oregon for young adults, earning a MoneyGeek score of 73 out of 100. It offers plan options with affordable rates, has MOOP costs that are lower than most and maintains better-than-average rates of claim approvals.
We evaluated two Bronze EPO plans, 23 Expanded Bronze EPO plans and four Expanded Bronze PPO plans for this category. Catastrophic plans are available only to individuals under age 30.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Fewer denied claims
Variety of plan options
Kaiser Permanente is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon for young adults. It offers four Expanded Bronze plans and one Catastrophic plan. They provide an average plan rate of $186 and an average MOOP cost of $8,638. The company has a denial rate of 8%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Kaiser Permanente provides EPO plans, which commonly offer a network of providers you must use to get the lowest costs.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies offer different plan types. The best providers for all avaialable categories are:
MoneyGeek's recommendations used only Silver plans. Silver plans usually strike a good balance between monthly payments and your costs when you see the doctor. These plans are helpful for people who go to the doctor or need health services fairly often.
In Oregon, there are 23 Silver EPO plans and three Silver PPO plans available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon for Silver EPO plans is Kaiser Permanente, which has four plans available. They offer an average plan rate of $504 and an average MOOP cost of $9,113. The provider has a denial rate of 8.5%, showing they deny fewer claims than average.
With Silver EPO plans, you may not need a referral to see a specialist. Also, if you stay in the network, your medical care is covered, except in an emergency. But for non-emergency care, you need to use the doctors and hospitals in the EPO network.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver EPO plans from Kaiser Permanente:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Oregon for Silver PPO plans is PacificSource Health Plans. They offer three Silver PPO plans. They have an average plan rate of $583 and an average MOOP cost of $9,317. The company's denial rate is 3.2%, which means they deny fewer claims than average.
PPO plans can be good because you can see specialists without a referral and they have a larger list of doctors you can go to. But they may cost more than other kinds like HMO plans. If you find it affordable, a PPO plan offers more choice on where to get your care.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver PPO plans from PacificSource Health Plans:
With a MoneyGeek score of 90 out of 100, National General Accident & Health offers the best short-term health insurance in Oregon. Short-term health insurance is only ideal for covering temporary gaps in health care coverage as it does not cover essential health benefits, unlike plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements.
We selected National General Accident & Health as the best short-term health insurance provider in Oregon. It offers short-term plans with varying lengths, deductibles and coverage options.
Your budget and health care needs will dictate the best health insurance for you. Before shopping for health insurance, evaluate how much you want to pay in monthly premiums compared to out-of-pocket expenses when you need care.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
Health insurance plans have networks, which are groups of doctors and hospitals. In-network means those doctors and hospitals have a deal with the insurance plan. Out-of-network means no deal is in place.
PPO plans have a wider provider network and may cover health care services you receive from out-of-network providers, whereas EPO plans will only cover in-network services. The latter tends to have lower monthly premiums. Oregon offers three PPO plans and 23 EPO plans.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When you look for health insurance, find the right mix of monthly costs and MOOP costs. Plans with low monthly costs usually mean you could pay more if you need considerable amounts of medical care. Higher monthly payments often lower your yearly spending cap, which can save money if you go to the doctor often.
For example, the KP Oregon Standard Silver Plan has the lowest MOOP among the Silver plans from Kaiser Permanente. But at $499 a month, it has higher premiums than the average for Kaiser's Silver plans. Consider Silver plans like this if if they let you access great doctors and hospitals.
Oregonians aged 65 and older or those with a disability or illness may qualify for Medicare. This is a federal health care program that offers affordable health care coverage to eligible individuals.
Medicare has three parts, with each one covering different services:
We rounded up the best Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans in Oregon.
Medicaid is another federal health care program that provides free or low-cost health care coverage for certain individuals. In Oregon, you may be eligible for free Medicaid if your household income is below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. You may also qualify for Oregon Medicaid if you are pregnant, are responsible for a child aged 17 or younger or have a disability.
Concerns about costs and availability are common when looking for health insurance. Below, we answered some of the frequently asked questions about health insurance in Oregon.
Overall, the best health insurance in Oregon for 2024 is offered by Kaiser Permanente. That said, the best company for you may differ based on your specific health care needs and circumstances.
When shopping for health care coverage, find a plan that balances affordability and coverage. Some insurance companies may offer you low monthly premiums but provide limited coverage for your medical needs.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
