Joe Kline / The Bulletin Financial representative Linda Alldredge, left, of Country Financial, helps Trina Brogan, right, and Marty Johnson, both of Bend, navigate health care choices online during a Cover Oregon enrollment fair earlier this month in Bend. The number of Oregonians enrolling in health care coverage via the federal exchange has surged, compared with last year when the Cover Oregon website rollout was a disaster.

An event in Bend on Thursday designed to help people enroll in health insurance through the federal exchange drew dozens of locals confused by the process.

The failure of Oregon’s health insurance exchange, Cover Oregon, to enroll people into health insurance plans through its online portal last fall caused its leaders to vote in spring to move to the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov. Cover Oregon is still working to assist people in enrolling through the federal exchange and is hosting a number of such enrollment fairs across the state over the next couple of weeks.

People have until Dec. 15 to enroll in policies in order for them to take effect by Jan. 1.

Even though Thursday’s event at the East Bend Library started at noon, Cherie Miller, the Cover Oregon administrator who staffed the reception table, said people were waiting at 10:30 a.m.

“We have been literally jammed with people back-to-back ever since the doors have opened,” she said.

By 3 p.m., Miller was greeting new attendees by the minute, adding them to a list and asking them to wait in a nearby seating area. The event featured five insurance agents and four community partners, people with nonprofits or other organizations who help people enroll in policies. Miller said the agents and partners could help people enter personal information into the exchange portal and view their options but could not make decisions for anyone.

One of the people waiting for help was Pam Kipper. The 56-year-old Bend resident has had type 2 diabetes for 30 years, and her main issue is finding an insurance policy that covers the many medications and office visits necessary to manage her condition.

Without insurance, Kipper said one insulin package, which lasts her about two weeks, would cost $540. With insurance, all of her medications cost $700 to $800 a month.

“If you’re not poor when you’re a diabetic, you become poor,” she said.

Kipper said she tried to enroll through HealthCare.gov, but the website was too confusing. She called Moda Health and was told a silver-tier plan would cost $447 per month, but she’s hoping to find a cheaper plan. Kipper has long had health insurance through her estranged husband’s work, but they’re divorcing, so she said she’s buying her own insurance for the first time in 18 years.

“It’s a whole new world,” she said.

Sally Sundsten, also of Bend, was in a far different situation. The self-employed graphic designer had already found the plan she wanted on HealthCare.gov, which she said was easy to use, but had one question to ask the agents: How do I prove my income if I’m self-employed?

Sundsten has gone for long periods without insurance. She said she’s planning on buying a high-deductible policy that she hopes she won’t need to use often.

As Miller led people from their chairs in the waiting area to insurance agents, others in the waiting area — appearing to get antsy — asked aloud whether that person had arrived after they did. Several asked Miller where they were in line.

“We’re just so happy that people are coming out for this, and they’re having a positive experience,” Miller said.

—Reporter: 541-383-0304,

tbannow@bendbulletin.com