SAIF is a state-chartered not-for-profit and the largest workers’ compensation agency in Oregon. Terhune has been CEO of SAIF since 2021, when his base salary was $500,000. While his exact salary is not reported, he has he regularly received raises and “incentive payments” of 35-40%, according to SAIF’s annual reports. In 2024, according to calculations from the 2021 base salary, Terhune’s salary was around $562,323 and his bonus amounted to something like $216,000.
Despite being a “not for profit,” it sure seems like the CEO made a lot of profit for themself.
The median salary for full-time workers in Oregon is $61,671.
SAIF’s nonprofit status has no bearing on how they pay out. They still move to close claims as quickly as possible, they still use shill doctors who aren’t good enough to practice as “independent” medical examiners to deny claims and they still sell people’s claims to managed care organizations that are for-profit and make more money by denying care. Getting injured on the job and needing care as a result in Oregon is a bad time.
SAIF exists because Oregon law says it exists, and like many entities that exist entirely because of legislation it does the bare minimum of what the law says it does.
I had a thought recently that could maybe make health insurance a little more fair here in the US. If we required the people who approve or deny claims at health insurance agencies to carry malpractice insurance and allowed them to be sued for medical malpractice when their claim denial led to adverse health outcomes, we could (maybe) make them think twice about denying claims.
Obviously trying to help people isn’t a functional incentive for them, but maybe not getting sued would work.
Despite being a “not for profit,” it sure seems like the CEO made a lot of profit for themself.
The median salary for full-time workers in Oregon is $61,671.
SAIF’s nonprofit status has no bearing on how they pay out. They still move to close claims as quickly as possible, they still use shill doctors who aren’t good enough to practice as “independent” medical examiners to deny claims and they still sell people’s claims to managed care organizations that are for-profit and make more money by denying care. Getting injured on the job and needing care as a result in Oregon is a bad time.
SAIF exists because Oregon law says it exists, and like many entities that exist entirely because of legislation it does the bare minimum of what the law says it does.
I had a thought recently that could maybe make health insurance a little more fair here in the US. If we required the people who approve or deny claims at health insurance agencies to carry malpractice insurance and allowed them to be sued for medical malpractice when their claim denial led to adverse health outcomes, we could (maybe) make them think twice about denying claims.
Obviously trying to help people isn’t a functional incentive for them, but maybe not getting sued would work.
My inner grammar nazi forces me to comment: It’s himself, herself or themselves.