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The latest numbers are in. As of yesterday, 212,391 Oregonians now have health care coverage thanks to Fast-track and Cover Oregon. A total of 122,869 people have enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan through the Fast-track process, and 57,858 have enrolled through Cover Oregon. An additional 31,664 people have used Cover Oregon to enroll in private health insurance. This is wonderful news.
Throughout OHA, DHS and Cover Oregon, we're striving to keep these numbers growing every day. The path continues to be challenging, and in these times, it's important to remember who we're working for.
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Laura Webber |
We're working for people like Laura Webber from Hillsboro, who until this month had gone without insurance for about three years, because she couldn't afford it after being laid off from her job as a loan processor. For more than a year, she's been suffering from a bad tooth and other health issues, including high blood pressure. For a while, she used a community clinic for her medical care, but even on a sliding pay scale, the medical bills were adding up. She lived in fear of illness or injury, limiting her activities, afraid that if she got hurt, she would be financially ruined.
Now that she's covered by OHP, Laura can rest easier. The first thing she did after verifying her enrollment through Cover Oregon was to schedule a dental appointment. She said, "I am so excited. I am going to the dentist today to get my tooth taken care of. And next week I have a doctor's appointment. I am very happy to have health insurance."
Laura is a great example of the impact health care coverage has on your life. Each time the enrollment number goes up, it means another Oregonian has access to the health care they need and the security of knowing they'll be able afford it.
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