Information on the COVID-19 website changes frequently and is updated regularly. Check back often for the most up-to-date information.
Emergency orders for insurers
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation issued a number of emergency orders and guidance about COVID-19 insurance and financial services issues.
The COVID-19 emergency orders that were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic expired in September 2020. However, several protections remain in place for Oregonians.
- People who were in a grace period when the COVID-19 orders expired will have their grace periods honored for the full term.
- Many insurance companies implemented their own plans to help consumers.
The COVID-19 emergency orders provided short-term relief to Oregonians in the early stages of the pandemic. The division expects insurers to remain flexible with their customers who need help during this time.
Individual health plan agreement
The division has reached an agreement with the state’s six health insurance companies that provide individual health benefit coverage.
The agreement provides:
- 30-day grace period for people with individual plans
- 15 days in advance notice of termination for people with individual plans
- 15-day grace period to pay the first month’s premium on a new individual policy
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Health insurance cost-share agreement
Health insurance companies can review the division’s billing and claims guidance for more information.
The agreement means consumers with fully-insured individual and group health plans will not be charged co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles related to COVID-19 for the following:
- COVID-19 laboratory testing administered consistent with guidelines issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- An in-network provider office visit or a visit to an in-network urgent care center to be tested for COVID-19.
- An emergency room visit to be tested for COVID-19.
- Immunization for COVID-19, once it becomes available.
Outside of these instances, regular terms of insurance such as co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles will still apply.
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Telehealth guidance
The state has reached an agreement with several health insurance companies to continue providing expanded telehealth options through at least June 30, 2021.
The agreement follows
guidance issued by the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Oregon Health Authority in late March requiring health insurance plans of all types to provide coverage for multiple telehealth platforms at the same rate as an in-person visit to limit in-person health care services.
This means health insurance companies will continue to provide coverage for expanded telehealth services for Oregonians and pay for these services at the rates they established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to note that this agreement does not apply to self-insured plans. The state encourages self-insured plans to cover expanded telehealth services for members.
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Prescription drug guidance
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation expects insurance companies offering comprehensive health plans to:
- Fast-track their review of formulary exceptions
- Monitor drug supplies and adjust formularies if a prescription drug is in short supply
- Make sure prescriptions used to treat COVID-19 symptoms are available on lower cost-share tiers.
- Review and apply formulary requirements for non-discrimination in benefit design
- Offer 90-day prescription refills
- Allow consumers to refill prescriptions early so that they have an adequate supply of their prescription medication.
- To the extent possible, waive requirements for a consumer to visit their doctor prior to refilling their prescription. This expectation
does not apply to opioids or other controlled substances.
Read the Prescription drug quick facts for more information
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American Rescue Plan and state continuation
Section 9501 of the American Rescue Plan Act provides premium assistance to help people remain enrolled in group health coverage if they lose their job or lose eligibility for health benefits.
Premium assistance is available to people who qualify for continuation coverage under COBRA, as well as any continuation coverage required under state law.
Premium assistance is available for a six-month period until Sept. 30, 2021. People who qualify for premium assistance will not need to pay premiums during this period. An employer or plan to which premiums are payable is entitled to a tax credit for the amount of the premium assistance.
Refer to the division’s
frequently asked questions about the relationship between American Rescue Plan premium assistance and continuation coverage required under
ORS 743B.347 (Oregon state continuation).
Auto premium refunds and credits for Oregon customers
Several auto insurance companies have been working with the division to provide auto insurance premium refunds and credits to Oregonians.
The refunds and credits are due to the reduced risk of auto accidents because of the Stay home, Save lives emergency order. The division has provided guidance for issuing the refunds and credits to help process filings and get money to consumers as quickly as possible.
The division encourages all carriers to consider providing refunds that reflect the reduced risk of auto liabilities due to the emergency order. This includes taking steps to reclassify vehicle usage and properly adjust mileage-based policy metrics.
Read the complete bulletin
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Auto insurance guidance for expired driver’s license and vehicle registrations
To provide immediate guidance to the insurance industry in support of Gov. Brown’s Executive Order and a recent
DMV bulletin, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation expects insurers to refrain from using the expiration of policyholders’ driver licenses or vehicle registrations to:
- Change a driver’s eligibility for an insurance discount
- Decrease a driver’s or business’s ability to secure and maintain auto insurance coverage
- Change the rates charged to any driver or business
Read the full memorandum here
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Guidance under personal automobile policies for delivery drivers
The division is calling on insurers to extend coverage for personal delivery drivers, and to limit the application of commercial delivery exclusions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Insurance carriers are encouraged to file endorsements with the division, to allow for coverage to be broadened for those using personal automobiles to deliver essential goods for a fee.
This guidance is intended to affect drivers who do not have coverage for deliveries through their personal policies. It is not intended to affect drivers working for transportation network companies.
Read the complete bulletin
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Providing assistance to borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
This includes offering loan forbearance plans, fee waivers, and other deferred payment options.
The division considers these measures to be in the public interest and assures Oregon regulated lenders they will not be subject to regulatory criticism for making reasonable and prudent efforts to help borrowers who are temporarily unable to repay their loans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the complete bulletin for guidance on mortgages, loans, and financial institutions
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Securities registration via email
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the division is allowing securities registration, exemption, and covered filers to make filings and payments electronically.
Large files or filings containing protected personal identifying information should use Biscom. Email us at securities.registrations@oregon.gov to arrange for access.
Scanned initial and renewal applications, as well as any amendments, may be emailed directly to the examiner assigned to the filing or to
securities.registrations@oregon.gov.
Credit card payments can be made through the cashiering hotline at 503-947-7891 or secure fax at 503-947-2333.
Check payments can be accepted by mail to
DCBS
Cashiering Unit
P.O. Box 14610
Salem, OR 97309
We are not accepting new ACH/wire transfer accounts at this time.
Read the letter for more information
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Temporarily working from home when it is not a licensed location
To support the efforts of loan originators and licensed companies to reduce the spread to COVID-19, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation will temporarily allow mortgage loan originators and employees licensed mortgage lenders, mortgage loan servicers, consumer finance companies, payday/title lenders, and manufactured structure dealers to work from home when the home is not a licensed location. Certain criteria must be met.
Read the complete bulletin for details
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Commercial liability for child care facilities
Insurance companies may not withdraw from, fail to renew, or cancel any commercial liability line of insurance or class of business, such as a child care facility, without supplying appropriate written justification and approval by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services.
Oregon Executive order 20-12 outlines the requirements which must be met for a child care facility to provide services. Specifically, child care must be carried out in a maximum stable group of 10 or fewer children, (stable means the same group each day), and in a classroom that cannot be accessed by children outside the stable group.
Child care facilities that comply with this executive order and follow the requirements for caring for children are not considered an increased hazard.
Read the complete memo here
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