Oregon Warns of Health Insurance Scams Before Enrollment Ends

OR Insurance News

Published January 12th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation issued a warning about health insurance scams as open enrollment nears its Jan. 15, 2026 deadline. The notice urges residents to use trusted sources to avoid misleading plans and protect themselves from fraudulent websites and tactics.

View original document View source feed page

What changed

The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) has issued a consumer alert reminding Oregonians that the open enrollment period for health coverage ends on January 15, 2026. The alert specifically warns of an increase in health insurance scams, including fake websites, aggressive sales tactics, and "junk" health plans that do not meet federal standards and can lead to unexpected medical bills. The DFR emphasizes the importance of using trusted sources and trained insurance experts to ensure enrollment in legitimate, comprehensive coverage.

Consumers are advised to watch for warning signs such as offers of "free" or "guaranteed" insurance, requests for personal information before eligibility confirmation, plans that exclude essential health benefits, or short-term plans marketed as comprehensive. Residents who miss the deadline may face a gap in coverage until the next enrollment period or a qualifying special enrollment event. The notice provides contact information for free, unbiased enrollment assistance through OregonHealthCare.gov or by calling 855-268-3767.

What to do next

Remind consumers of the January 15, 2026, health insurance open enrollment deadline.
Advise consumers to use trusted sources for health coverage information and enrollment.
Educate consumers on common health insurance scam warning signs.

Source document (simplified)

State urges people of Oregon to act before open enrollment ends and beware of health coverage scams

Site Navigation Jan. 12, 2026

Salem – Salem, OR — TK Keen, Oregon's insurance commissioner, is reminding the people of Oregon that open enrollment for health coverage ends Jan. 15, 2026, and is urging residents to act now to avoid gaps in coverage and protect themselves from scam websites and misleading health plans.

“Quality, affordable health coverage is essential to the well-being of every person in Oregon and their families," Keen said. “As open enrollment comes to a close, I want people to have accurate information so they can enroll with confidence and avoid being taken advantage of by scammers."

As the enrollment deadline approaches, state officials warn that fake websites, aggressive sales tactics, and so-called 'junk' health plans often target consumers searching for coverage. These plans may appear affordable but frequently do not meet federal standards, offer limited or no coverage for essential services, and can leave people with unexpected medical bills.

People looking for health coverage should watch out for warning signs, including:

Websites or sales calls claiming to offer “free" or “guaranteed" health insurance
Requests for payment or personal information before confirming eligibility
Plans that do not cover essential health benefits such as prescriptions, mental health care, or preventive services
Short-term or limited-benefit plans marketed as comprehensive insurance State officials emphasize that the only way to be sure you are enrolling in legitimate, comprehensive coverage is to use trusted sources and trained insurance experts.

“People in Oregon deserve coverage that actually works when they need it," said Keen. “If a plan sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Residents who miss the open enrollment deadline may have to wait until the next enrollment period unless they qualify for a special enrollment period due to a major life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, or changes in household size.

Help is available. Free, unbiased assistance is offered to help people compare plans, understand financial assistance options, and enroll before the deadline.

For accurate information and enrollment assistance, visit OregonHealthCare.gov or call 855-268-3767 (all relay calls accepted).

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation protects consumers and regulates insurance, depository institutions, trust companies, securities, and consumer financial products and services. The division is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon's largest consumer protection and business regulatory agency. Visit dfr.oregon.gov and dcbs.oregon.gov.

Media questions

Jason Horton
503-798-6376
jason.a.horton@dcbs.oregon.gov