Oregon Health Plan changes, 2026–2028

Rose City Benefitstracks what’s actually changing for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) so you don’t have to piece it together from news coverage. Everything below comes from the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) own page on federal changes to OHP, which we fetched directly, plus OHA’s own member-facing pages. Several of these changes don’t start until 2027 or later, and OHA itself says it’s still waiting on federal guidance for exact start dates on some of them — we note that explicitly below rather than inventing a date.

Last reviewed: July 19, 2026.

Timeline of verified changes

Refugees and asylees move to Healthier Oregon — October 2026

Starting October 2026, refugees, asylees, and certain humanitarian parolees who currently have regular OHP transition to Healthier Oregon, a state-funded program that provides the same full OHP benefit package regardless of immigration status. OHA is explicit that, unlike in other states, this change does not mean people in these groups lose coverage in Oregon — it moves them to a different program that covers the same benefits.

Who’s affected: refugees, asylees, and certain humanitarian parolees currently on regular OHP.

What to do: nothing yet — OHA describes this as an administrative transition, not something members need to apply for.

Healthier Oregon members shift to OHP Open Card — January 2027

In January 2027, people on Healthier Oregon move again, this time to OHP Open Card. OHA says this keeps the same benefits but changes which provider network members use.

Who’s affected: Healthier Oregon members as of that date.

What to do: watch for a notice from OHA about your new provider network once this takes effect.

More frequent renewals — starting sometime in 2027 (exact date not yet set)

Almost all OHP and Medicare Savings Program members will need to renew more often starting in 2027. Adults 19–64 will renew every six months instead of the current two years; children and OHP programs based on disability will renew every year instead of the current schedule (which includes children under 6 renewing at their sixth birthday). OHA’s own page says it is still waiting on federal guidance for exactly when in 2027 this begins, so we’re not printing a specific date here.

Who’s affected: nearly all OHP and Medicare Savings Program members.

What to do: once this starts, respond to every renewal notice ODHS/OHA sends — missing one because you expected your old two-year cycle is the main risk.

Work or activity requirements — 2027, adults 19–64 only

Also starting in 2027, adults ages 19–64 who don’t have Medicare and aren’t on disability-based OHP will need to show a combination of work, volunteering, education, or training that adds up to 80 hours a month (or meet an income test) to keep coverage. OHA lists exemptions including: main caretakers of a child under 14, anyone with a disabling health condition, people who were incarcerated in the last three months, and pregnant people through one year postpartum.

Who’s affected: adults 19–64 on OHP without Medicare or disability-based coverage, outside the listed exemptions.

What to do: nothing required yet — this isn’t in effect in 2026. Keep an eye on renewal notices once 2027 arrives.

Copayments for some adults — October 2028

Further out, starting October 2028, some adults will owe a small copay for certain kinds of care. OHA says this won’t apply to members with Medicare or disability-based OHP, or to anyone with household income under $15,000 a year, and it won’t apply to checkups, emergency care, mental health care, prenatal care, substance use treatment, or care at community health clinics regardless of income. This is outside the late-2026–2027 window this page mostly covers, but it’s the last piece of OHA’s published timeline, so we’re including it for completeness.

What has not changed

Applying for OHP still works the same way today: online at ONE.Oregon.gov, by phone at 1-800-699-9075, on a paper application, in person at an ODHS office, or through an OHP-certified community partner. Based on OHA’s own OHP Bridge page, the regular OHP income limit is 133% of the federal poverty level (OHP Bridge covers adults between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level who make too much for regular OHP). None of the 2026–2028 changes above touch that income limit itself.

Sources

• OHA: Oregon Health Plan Changes in Late 2026 to 2028
• OHA: OHP Bridge program page
• Oregon Health News Blog (OHA): “Update: New federal rules for Oregon Health Plan”

Read the full Oregon Health Plan guidefor how to apply today, or see everything else we’ve corrected or updated on the updates log.