Salem-area residents who buy their own health insurance will have fewer options in 2027 after two major carriers announced they are leaving Oregon's individual market.
Providence Health Plan and PacificSource will no longer offer individual health plans in the state, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Moda Health Plan will only be available in select counties and will not cover Marion County, according to a Division of Financial Regulation filing.
That leaves Marion and Polk county residents with three individual-market carriers for 2027: BridgeSpan Health Company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.
Oregon had six insurers offering individual marketplace plans in 2026. The drop to four statewide is part of a national trend. The Commonwealth Fund reported that at least seven insurers across the country have announced they will stop offering marketplace coverage in 2027, pointing to escalating costs and declining enrollment.
New comparison tool goes live
To help people navigate the changes, the Oregon Health Authority on Oct. 15 launched the Explore Health Plan Guide at ExploreHealthOR.gov. The online tool lets users compare individual health and dental plans by cost, benefits and coverage. Users can enter their prescription medications and doctors to see which plans fit their needs.
The tool also estimates whether someone may qualify for Oregon Health Plan benefits or financial assistance through the marketplace.
"Choosing health insurance can feel overwhelming, especially when plans and coverage options are changing," said Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace. "The Plan Guide gives you a chance to explore options before Open Enrollment begins so you can better understand what coverage and financial help may be available."
Using the Plan Guide does not enroll anyone in coverage. Open enrollment for 2027 runs from Nov. 1, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027.
Premiums climbing
The insurer exits come alongside steep premium increases. The Division of Financial Regulation approved a weighted average rate increase of 21.6% for Oregon's individual market before subsidies, according to state filings. A 40-year-old in Portland buying a mid-tier silver plan will pay between $599 and $734 per month in 2027, up from an average of $567 for similar plans in 2026, OPB reported.
During the 2026 open enrollment period, 118,372 people signed up for individual or family coverage through Oregon's marketplace, according to healthinsurance.org. People enrolled with Providence or PacificSource will need to select new plans during the upcoming enrollment window.
State marketplace replaces HealthCare.gov
Explore Health is Oregon's new state-based marketplace, replacing the federal HealthCare.gov platform. The Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Health Authority to build the exchange through Senate Bill 972 in 2023. The platform received federal approval in August.
In August, when Explore Health received that federal approval, Flowers said the state-run exchange would give Oregon flexibility to tailor the marketplace to local community needs and respond to changes in federal policy.
The tool is also available in Spanish at Espanol.ExploreHealthOR.gov. Residents can schedule an appointment with an enrollment partner for help comparing plans or signing up for coverage.
Open enrollment begins Nov. 1 at ExploreHealthOR.gov.
