Oregon Medical Insurance Pool
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Medical Insurance Pool (OMIP), instituted in 1987, is designed to provide medical insurance coverage for residents of the state of Oregon
with pre-existing conditions (i.e. HIV
/AIDS
, diabetes, etc.) who do not already have private insurance. OMIP is administered by Oregon's Office of Private Health Partnerships through Blue Cross/Blue Shield
. It functions similarly to other private insurance.
as federal law in 2010, as of January 1, 2014, insurers will no longer be permitted to charge higher rates or discriminate against those individuals who have a pre-existing condition. This will effectively end the need for OMIP.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
with pre-existing conditions (i.e. HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, diabetes, etc.) who do not already have private insurance. OMIP is administered by Oregon's Office of Private Health Partnerships through Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Blue Shield
Blue Shield may refer to:*Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association*International Committee of the Blue Shield*Blue Shield , a Marvel Comics Superhero...
. It functions similarly to other private insurance.
Ryan White CARE Act
HIV/AIDS clients of OMIP are able to receive needed assistance through the federally sponsored Ryan White CARE Act. CAREAssist, Oregon's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, is funded the federal Ryan White CARE program. CAREAssist pays insurance premiums and medical services/prescription co-pays for individuals in need who are infected with HIV/AIDS.Impact of federal legislation
Due to the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
as federal law in 2010, as of January 1, 2014, insurers will no longer be permitted to charge higher rates or discriminate against those individuals who have a pre-existing condition. This will effectively end the need for OMIP.