Oregon has received approval from CMS to launch a state-run ACA marketplace starting Nov. 1.
The new platform, Explore Health, will let Oregon residents shop for ACA plans, check subsidy eligibility and enroll in coverage directly through the state rather than the federal exchange. The Oregon legislature authorized the transition in 2023 through Senate Bill 972.
Oregon will also now control its own enrollment system, consumer outreach and plan oversight rather than relying on CMS to run those functions. On Aug. 21, state officials framed the move as a way to tailor the marketplace to local needs and respond more quickly to federal policy changes.
As of 2026, 20 states and Washington, D.C., run their own marketplace platforms.
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