Oregon universal health care plan discussed at Bend town hall

By Central Oregon Daily News Staff April 25, 2026 Central Oregon Daily News

BEND, Ore. -- Oregon health care advocates said a proposed universal health care system is moving closer to reality during a town hall in Bend on Saturday, part of a yearslong effort to design a statewide plan.

The event, hosted by Health Care for All Oregon and members of the state’s Universal Health Plan Governance Board, gave residents a chance to hear updates on the proposal and ask questions ahead of upcoming legislative action.

Nick Campbell, chair of the Central Oregon chapter of Health Care for All Oregon, said the town hall was meant to give the public direct access to the people shaping the plan.

“This is very real,” Campbell said. “Some of the people directly involved in this process are here today to share where things stand and take public comment and feedback.”

He said the proposal is expected to be introduced to the Oregon Legislature in September and noted the effort has been in development since 2019.

Campbell said Oregon is in a unique position to pursue universal coverage, pointing to the state’s constitutional right to health care and years of groundwork behind the proposal.