New Oregon Consumer Protection Laws Take Effect Jan. 1, 2026
Health care billing, insurance coverage, and financial protections among key changes
SALEM, Ore. — Several new consumer protection laws approved by the Oregon Legislature will take effect at midnight on January 1, 2026, impacting health care coverage, medical billing practices, insurance protections, and financial reporting for consumers statewide.
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS), through its Division of Financial Regulation, released a summary outlining the new laws, which apply to health care providers, insurers, and consumer reporting agencies operating in Oregon.
Below is an overview of the legislation taking effect in January.
Medical Debt and Credit Reporting
Senate Bill 605 prohibits health care providers from reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies. It also bars credit reporting agencies from including medical debt on consumer credit reports.
Expanded Health Coverage Requirements
Senate Bill 692 requires the Oregon Health Plan and commercial health insurance plans to cover perinatal services, including care provided by doulas, lactation consultants, and lactation educators.
Senate Bill 699 expands requirements for insurance coverage of prosthetic and orthotic devices. Coverage must now include devices deemed medically necessary to support full-body function, including for activities such as running, biking, swimming, and strength training.
Senate Bill 822 strengthens access standards for health care services under state-regulated health benefit plans. The law establishes enforceable standards to reduce unreasonable delays in accessing in-network care, requires networks to consider the needs of diverse communities, and extends protections to plans offered by large employers.
Senate Bill 1137 requires health benefit plans to cover autologous breast reconstruction procedures, which use a patient’s own tissue instead of or in addition to implants. Insurers must also cover these services out of network when adequate in-network access is unavailable.
House Bill 3064 mandates coverage for a range of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies used to treat symptoms associated with perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause.
Insurance and Financial Protections
House Bill 2130 updates the laws governing the Oregon Insurance Guaranty Association, which helps pay claims when an insurance company becomes insolvent. The law doubles the maximum covered claim amount from $300,000 to $600,000, reducing potential uncovered losses for consumers.
House Bill 2564 enhances Oregon’s health insurance rate review process for individual and small group plans. Insurers must now include a consumer-friendly summary with rate filings to support public engagement, while also streamlining administrative requirements.
Ground Ambulance Billing Protections
House Bill 3243 aims to prevent surprise ground ambulance bills. The law prohibits balance billing when an enrollee has paid the in-network cost-sharing amount and requires health benefit plans to reimburse ambulance providers at specified rates.
State officials encourage consumers to review the new protections and understand how the changes may affect their health care coverage, medical billing, and insurance rights beginning in 2026.
Cover image: file photo
