Medicaid Estate Recovery in Oregon
Oregon Health Plan is the state Medicaid program, run by the Oregon Health Authority. After a member dies, the Estate Administration Unit of the Oregon Department of Human Services recovers Medicaid benefits paid during the member's long-term care from age 55 onward.
OverviewWhen someone dies
Administering agency
Oregon Department of Human Services — Estate Administration Unit (Oregon Health Plan)
Phone800-826-5675
WebsiteVisit website →
Authority
ORS 416.350; OAR 461-135-0832 to 461-135-0847
Verified Jul 2026
Medicaid Estate Recovery in Oregon: key facts
- Recovery scope
- Medicaid benefits paid since age 55 during the member's long-term care — nursing facility, assisted living, residential and adult foster care, in-home care, and related fee-for-service and managed-care costs.
- Who is subject
- Oregon Health Plan members who received long-term care services at age 55 or older.
- Recovery deferred
- No claim is made until after the surviving spouse dies, and no claim is made while there is a surviving child under 21 or a child of any age who is blind or permanently and totally disabled (ORS 416.350).
- Hardship waiver
- A beneficiary, heir, or family member claiming the deceased person's assets may request an undue-hardship waiver in writing within 45 days of the date ODHS sends the hardship-waiver notice (later requests only for good cause). ODHS may consider whether enforcing the claim would make the applicant eligible for assistance or homeless.
Governing law: ORS 416.350; OAR 461-135-0832 to 461-135-0847
Frequently asked questions
No. Oregon recovers Medicaid benefits paid during the member's long-term care from age 55 onward — nursing facility, assisted living, residential and adult foster care, in-home care, and related costs — rather than every Medicaid service ever received.
When someone dies
Steps after a death in Oregon
4-step process for Oregon Department of Human Services — Estate Administration Unit (Oregon Health Plan).
View details →
Sources
Data sourced from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Oregon primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Oregon Department of Human Services — Estate Administration Unit (Oregon Health Plan)
Phone800-826-5675
WebsiteVisit website →
Authority
ORS 416.350; OAR 461-135-0832 to 461-135-0847
Verified Jul 2026