Despite the passage of a key open enrollment deadline on Dec. 15, there may still be a way for Oregonians to qualify for tax credits on health coverage that kicks in on Jan. 1.

Portland agent Andrew Eachon at Century Benefits says his firm has continued to use the federal health insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov, to help enroll people in tax credits and coverage that begins on Jan. 1 -- contrary to advertising and Cover Oregon press releases warning of the Dec. 15 deadline,

He said many Oregonians may qualify for a Dec. 31 deadline that ensures their coverage does not lapse the next day.

"If you're a Cover Oregon member, I can get you coverage effective Jan 1," he said. "We enrolled an agent in our office ten minutes ago."

The key? Consumers must have 2014 Cover Oregon coverage in place now, he said. And, importantly, they must fill out their Healthcare.gov exchange application carefully.

If Eachon is right, the news could affect thousands of Oregonians who qualify for tax credits to reduce premiums but have not yet signed up. As of Dec. 14, only 40,581 people had signed up for 2015 coverage through HealthCare.gov, and another 26,799 on off-exchange plans, according to the state.

Statewide, more than 50,000 people receive tax credits through Cover Oregon, the state exchange which decided to contract with HealthCare.gov after its own technology didn't work.

Another roughly 150,000 people have 2014 private insurance on the individual market without tax credits—roughly a tenth of them having purchased through Cover Oregon.

Advertising for HealthCare.gov airing in Oregon has told consumers that if they want to ensure uninterrupted coverage on Jan. 1, they need to enroll by Dec. 15. Under those rules, people enrolling after Dec. 15 but by Jan. 15 would receive Feb. 1 coverage. Those enrolling between Jan. 15 and Feb. 15 -- the final deadline -- would have coverage effective March 1.

But those deadlines are for "open enrollment" -- the rules that apply to just about anyone applying, including people that currently are not covered. Eachon instead pointed to the special rules for people facing special circumstances. Fittingly, the term for that is "special enrollment."

Eachon said he and his coworkers have continued to assist people in enrolling for Jan. 1 coverage simply by paying close attention to the section of the application marked "Questions about life changes." He supplied The Oregonian with copies of his coworker's Dec. 19 application information that confirms Jan. 1 coverage.

The firm' has clients fill out the life changes section noting that they will be losing coverage in the next two months—specifically, on Dec. 31, 2014. That's true of everyone who signed up for private insurance through Cover Oregon.

That, in turn, allows the consumer to bypass the open enrollment deadline by triggering eligibility for special enrollment, Eachon said. The federal exchange applies special rules to people undergoing "life changes" such as losing their coverage.

Eachon said his firm confirmed that this option is possible through Dec. 31 in discussions with two customer service representatives, including one supervisor, at the federal health exchange help line: (800) 318-2596.

Calls by The Oregonian to the same federal help line elicited the same information, confirming Eachon's account, in discussions with three different customer service representatives, including a supervisor. All three echoed the Dec. 31 deadline for Jan. 1 coverage, saying it applied to Oregonians who are losing their policies that date.

In an email, Aaron Albright, a federal exchange spokesman, initially reiterated the Dec. 15 open enrollment deadline to have coverage be effective Jan 1.

Then, told of what customer service representatives are saying, he wrote, "What you are talking about is a long-standing special enrollment period for people losing coverage (like lost a job on the 17th of the month and their insurance ends at the end of the month)." He provided a link to the regulation.

Concerning "special enrollment periods," it reads: "In a case where a consumer loses coverage ... if the plan selection is made before or on the day of the loss of coverage, the Exchange must ensure that the coverage effective date is on the first day of the month following the loss of coverage."

Albright did not respond to an e-mail asking him to confirm this regulation means all people now covered under Cover Oregon qualify for the Dec. 31 deadline to have coverage in place Jan. 1.

Cover Oregon spokeswoman Ariane Le Chevallier sent a similar response to what Albright had sent. She did not answer The Oregonian's question of whether special enrollment rules could apply to everyone currently enrolled under Cover Oregon.

The new information would only affect people seeking tax credits to reduce premiums starting in January. Those who are not seeking the credits can sign up direct with private insurers, most of whom are allowing Jan. 1 coverage for anyone who signs up by Dec. 31.

Eachon said even insurers he's spoken with were not aware of the special enrollment option on Healthcare.gov, with its deadline of Dec. 31.

"Everybody just believes what Cover Oregon says," he said. "They're not checking with the federal exchange."

--Nick Budnick