Schrader Announces Open Enrollment Period for Medicare and Child Only Health Insurance Policies

Press Release

Today, Congressman Kurt Schrader announced the beginning of the open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries, as well as the continuation of a special open enrollment period for Oregon families that would like to sign up children, under the age of 19, for an individual health care policy.

The open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins on November 15, 2010, and lasts until December 31, 2010. It is important that those enrolled in Medicare use this opportunity to review and make changes to their Medicare plan as this opportunity is only available once each year.

The recently enacted Federal health reform makes sure each child has access to health insurance by allowing those kids who do not receive insurance through a parent's job to seek an individual policy directly from an insurance company. Insurers can still limit enrollment for children to specific times of each year, however, Oregon has set up an initial enrollment period which will last from November 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010. These policies will not discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions, and will also be open to enrollment in both February and August of 2011. Finally, the largest insurers in Oregon which offer family plans in the individual market will add children under 19 to these policies during this open enrollment period.

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