Oregon's ObamaCare exchange enrolls U.S. senator in Medicaid

Oregon's ObamaCare exchange enrolls U.S. senator in Medicaid
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In the latest disaster for Cover Oregon, that state's own health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, it has now somehow managed to sign up one of the state two U.S. senators, Jeff Merkley (D), into Medicaid for low-income residents.

"It must have been about half a year after I was on (private insurance) we suddenly got a mailing that said 'Congratulations, you're enrolled!'" Merkley recalled. "And I was like, 'What? You're crazy.'"The error by the exchange and the Oregon Health Authority, which oversees the health plan, is significant not only because it involves a sitting U.S. senator. It appears to also reveal a new type of enrollment glitch: not just an erroneous enrollment or miscalculation of benefit, but a double enrollment of someone who clearly was ineligible for Oregon's version of Medicaid. [The Oregonian]

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week
Explore More