# Medicaid vs employer provided health plan

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 2, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455 "2015-11-02T20:09:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455/1 "2015-11-02T20:09:52Z")

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This applies to the US, Oregon in specific.

Previously my employer did not provide ACA qualified medical insurance. Since I’m a fairly low income person, I qualified for the expanded Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) under the ACA.

Now my employer has changed their medical insurance and I think it is now ACA qualified. However the premiums I’d have to pay are a significant fraction of my income (around 9 to 10%). About 3 times more than what I pay in Federal taxes. And it doesn’t cover dental, which OHP does. My question is, do I have to switch to the employer’s plan or can I stay under OHP?

I realise I should be able to get an answer from OHP, but there’s only so long I can stay on hold. Their hold times are extreme right now. And my employer wants an answer fast.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455/2 "2015-11-02T21:50:18Z")

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Rather than waiting on the phone, I recommend starting at [https://www.healthcare.gov](https://www.healthcare.gov)

You may not be subject to an ACA policy if your income is too low and in that case, that site should know what OHP coverage might be.

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**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455/3 "2015-11-03T00:06:20Z")

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Thanks for the link. I didn’t think to try there although I did try the FAQ at the OHP site. Looks like at my income level, I still qualify for OHP.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medicaid-vs-employer-provided-health-plan/736455/4 "2015-11-03T00:47:12Z")

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> [@dtilque](#):
>
> Thanks for the link. I didn’t think to try there although I did try the FAQ at the OHP site. Looks like at my income level, I still qualify for OHP.

Good. This link might help too.

[https://tbplan.com/health-insurance-cover-oregon/aca-income-table/](https://tbplan.com/health-insurance-cover-oregon/aca-income-table/)