Oregon Orders ClearShare to Halt Health Plan Operations
State regulators say the company operated an insurance-like program in Oregon without proper authorization and are warning consumers to review non-ACA coverage options carefully.
SALEM, Ore. – Oregon regulators have ordered ClearShare Health and several affiliated entities to cease insurance operations in the state after determining the company was operating a program that functioned as insurance without required authorization.
The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) announced Monday that it issued a cease-and-desist order against ClearShare Health, along with affiliates Clearwater Benefits LLC, Clearwater Benefits Administrators LLC, Clearwater Benefits Holdings LLC, and co-founder Douglas Sherman.
According to the agency, ClearShare offered a cost-sharing program marketed as memberships in which consumers paid monthly amounts into a pooled fund used to pay members’ medical expenses.
State investigators allege the program operated as a business of insurance in Oregon without first obtaining a certificate of authority. Regulators also allege the entities provided third-party administrator services without the required license.
The investigation began in January 2026 after DFR said it received multiple consumer complaints.
Under the order, the company and affiliates are barred from transacting insurance in Oregon, including marketing or selling memberships to Oregon residents, collecting payments for new memberships or renewals, and representing that the memberships are not subject to DFR oversight.
The state said current Oregon members whose plans were active as of April 14, 2026, may continue to have medical expense submissions administered and reviewed under their existing memberships.
DFR said consumers should carefully research health coverage options and confirm plans comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Oregon licensing requirements.
The agency said unlicensed or misleading health coverage products can leave consumers without expected protections and may weaken the broader licensed insurance market.
Consumers who need assistance can contact Oregon’s health insurance advocates at 888-877-4894 or email dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.
Cover photo: AI generated image.
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