Oregon Health Plan (OHP) application assistance available
Community members who are interested in applying for or renewing coverage with the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) have a resource at the Hood River County Health Department. Victor Mondragon is the Health Department’s Outreach & Enrollment Specialist for the OHP, also known as an OHP “assistor.”
Victor is knowledgeable about the Oregon Health Plan’s many programs for various populations, including expectant mothers, children, individuals, and families. OHP is Oregon’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program. Within OHP, several programs exist for different population groups. For those who might not qualify for the OHP, Victor can also refer to assistors who specialize in applying for the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace coverage (healthcare.oregon.gov).
A newly updated OHP program, Healthier Oregon, now allows access to full medical benefits and healthcare coverage regardless of age (0-64 years old) or immigration status. OHP is operated by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
The Hood River County Health Dept. attends
community events to share information about
its services. At a recent Families in the Park,
Victor is accompanied by Public Health Nurse McKenna Carter,
and Receptionist Mayra Ulloa.
“Granted, the U.S. healthcare system is more complicated than it needs to be,” Victor says. “I serve as a guide to help people navigate it by making information easier to understand.” Mondragon assists with the many steps required to apply, most importantly proof of income documents since OHP is for low- or no-income community members.
Contacting Victor to find out for what a person may qualify could be worthwhile, and he can help navigate the OHP system for those experiencing houselessness. “Income is based on the day a person applies, whether for a pregnant mother or someone who recently had a baby,” he explains. Proof of income for that month or the previous month is all that’s needed.
Victor’s direct line at the Hood River County Health Department is 541-387-7120. He can be reached by email at victor.mondragon@hoodrivercounty.gov.
Victor Mondragon outside
the County Health Department
Victor recently learned at a health insurance training that prices for deductibles and premiums can be lowered if more people are enrolled in health insurance plans. “The more that healthier people enroll in health insurance plans, the less medical expenses will be for those who really need insurance,” he explains.
Victor submits applications for around 30-35 applicants per month and tracks approvals and denials to report his efforts to the State, since a State grant funds his position. OHA has a subdivision called Community Partners Outreach Program (CPOP), which funds Mondragon’s position. CPOP is a network that engages communities across Oregon to advance an equitable, responsive health system for a healthier Oregon. It assists Oregon’s most vulnerable and hard to reach populations with navigating and dismantling barriers to health coverage access.
Mondragon has worked at the Health Department since November 2019. He became an OHP certified specialist in his first several months on the job, then COVID-19 hit. He was able to transition his work from in-person to virtual phone appointments. Fluent in both Spanish and English, he assisted with many demands of the Health Department during the pandemic. He helped with contact tracing, the seasonal migrant farmworker task force, and other needs. He is a qualified medical interpreter, and in June became a certified Community (or Traditional) Health Worker.
Supporting people and serving others has always been important to Victor. Prior to joining the Health Department, he served many diverse populations that are considered marginalized in society. A graduate of Oregon State University with a background in social services, he’s worked in positions focused on immigrant rights, voter rights, and supported survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. His role at the Hood River County Health Department continues to feed his strong desire to help others.