Your Guide to Washington State Health Insurance
Before we jump right into Washington state health insurance and everything you need to know, let’s start with a little background information. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a “Obamacare” or ACA) was passed with the goal of getting all Americans access to affordable health insurance. To meet this goal, one measure Obamacare took was to create the ACA health insurance marketplaces, or health exchanges: one-stop shops where Americans can choose from a range of standardized, government-regulated health care plans. Health exchanges are also where eligible people can get subsidies, which lower the cost of their health plans.
States were given the option to run their own local exchange, take part in a multi-state exchange, or use the federal exchange. States that run their own exchanges get to customize many elements, including the time frame during which their residents can sign up for a plan. Several states decided to operate their own state exchanges and continue to do so to this day. Washington is one of those states.
Washington State’s Health Insurance Landscape: Then and Now
The Washington state health insurance exchange is called Washington Healthplanfinder. In 2021, 279,000 people are enrolled in health plans through Washington Healthplanfinder. Those who are uninsured tend to be the following:
Between the ages of 18 and 34
Lower income
Less educated
Caucasian or Hispanic
The Washington State Health Insurance Exchange
Washington Healthplanfinder is where eligible people throughout the state can find subsidized ACA plans. Open Enrollment for 2022 in Washington begins November 1 and ends December 15. Your coverage will start January 1. This sign up window is the exact same as the window given on the federal exchange.
Like all other state exchanges, each plan on Washington Healthplanfinder covers 10 essential health benefits. These include things like prescription coverage, maternity and mental health care, and laboratory services.
Buying insurance with Washington Healthplanfinder involves four steps:
1. Create an account on Washington Healthplanfinder
2. Complete the online application form
3. Compare your options
4. Select your plan and enroll
In true health insurance fashion, each of these steps can be trickier than you expect. Many people need help navigating the website, estimating their income, figuring out if they are eligible for subsidies, and understanding what documents are needed for proof of income, citizenship, or identity. Working with Stride makes this process much faster and easier, while still enrolling through Washington Healthplanfinder with the same plan at the same price.
Washington Healthplanfinder’s Intricacies: What You Need to Know for 2022
Most insurers that offered plans on Washington Healthplanfinder for 2021 will continue to do so for 2022. This means 12 carriers are returning to the exchange. These carriers include:
BridgeSpan Health Co
Community Health Network of Washington
Coordinated Care Corp
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
LifeWise Health Plan of Washington
Molina Healthcare of Washington
PacificSource Health Plans
Premera Blue Cross
Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Regence Blue Shield
United Healthcare
Washingtonians are lucky because there is a wide variety of carriers participating in the exchange. This means you have a pretty good selection when choosing a plan.
Last year, health plan rates in Washington decreased 3.2%. Insurers have proposed an average rate increase of 5.5% for 2022, but whether rates will actually increase this much remains to be seen.
Most health insurance shoppers can save money by switching to the cheapest plan within their metal tier. Not to mention, you will likely qualify for a health insurance subsidy, which can help make your plan more affordable.
If you live in Washington, the start of Open Enrollment (the time of year when you can enroll in a new health plan) is here. Be sure to find your most affordable plan, and you’ll be well on your way for smarter, better savings all year long. And don’t forget – if you need help finding a subsidy or picking a plan, our experts are here to help!