Bend Chamber Partners with Moda Health for 2027 Health Plan
The Bend Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Moda Health to become the primary health insurance provider for the 2027 Bend Chamber Association Health Plan, following significant shifts in Oregon’s health insurance landscape.
This strategic alignment comes in the wake of Providence Health Plan’s exit from the state’s individual and group markets, creating an opportunity for Moda Health to expand its coverage offerings to employers who are members of the Bend Chamber. With this partnership, Moda Health aims to deliver reliable group health insurance options amidst market volatility, beginning October 1. This decision underscores the Bend Chamber’s commitment to supporting its business community, covering 800 employer groups and over 14,000 individuals. Given the current landscape, this development is aligned with a broader trend where group health insurance plans are becoming essential for employers striving to maintain a competitive edge in talent acquisition.
Impact on Employers and Coverage Transition
Sara Odendahl, CEO of the Bend Chamber, highlighted the criticality of providing stable health benefits as a strategic advantage for businesses in talent retention. Employers within the chamber stand to benefit from seamless transition plans from Providence to Moda Health, with efforts to minimize disruptions by ensuring 2026 deductibles and out-of-pocket payments carry over for those shifting plans before January 1, 2027. The new arrangement ensures that despite Moda’s anticipated withdrawal from the individual market in Deschutes County in 2027, group coverage will remain intact through this plan.
Understanding Dual-Carrier Options
For employers in Deschutes County with a workforce of 51 or more, there will be an opportunity to leverage a dual-carrier setup incorporating both Moda Health and Kaiser Permanente. Offered through the chamber’s facilitation, this arrangement provides employers with the flexibility to tailor insurance benefits best suited to their organizational needs while likely enhancing employee satisfaction and retention through varied plan offerings.
- Partnership Start Date: October 1, 2024
- Applicability: Chamber members in Deschutes County
- Employer Size Range: 51 or more for dual-carrier options
As the insurance industry continues to adapt to regulatory changes and market pressures, initiatives like the Bend Chamber's partnership with Moda highlight the evolving strategies insurers and business associations are adopting to meet the needs of local communities. The continued stability and customization of health benefits, as facilitated by such collaborations, reflect broader efforts across the industry to balance customer needs with market realities.