Washington Healthplanfinder Enrollment Exceeds 200,000

This announcement supplements the release of the Exchange’s most recent Health Coverage Enrollment Report that provides in-depth information on February 2017 enrollees. Detailed within the report are the more than 1.7 million Washingtonians who enrolled in coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder from Nov. 1, 2016 to Jan. 31, 2017, including the over 1.5 million residents enrolled in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid MAGI/CHIP).

“Our continued enrollment growth is further evidence of the critical role Washington Healthplanfinder plays in connecting residents with health and dental coverage,” said Pam MacEwan, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “As the health insurance marketplace for one in four Washingtonians, we remain committed to providing access to affordable health care to everyone in Washington state.”

Included within the updated enrollment report are comprehensive breakdowns of Qualified Health Plan, Qualified Dental Plan, and Washington Apple Health enrollees. Highlights taken from the data include:

• Subsidies cut customers’ costs by 40 percent. The average monthly premium cost for a customer enrolled in a subsidized Qualified Health Plan in 2017 is $231, which is $157 less than the cost paid by customers enrolled in a non-subsidized QHP.
• More Washingtonians than ever are using Washington Healthplanfinder to purchase individual coverage. The number of customers enrolling in Qualified Health Plan without a tax credit increased by more than 35 percent over the previous year, with nearly 69,000 enrollees receiving no financial help. Non-subsidized enrollees represent 38 percent of Qualified Health Plan customers – the highest percentage of any enrollment period to date.
• In its first year, family dental plan enrollment tops 20,000. A total of 23,502 customers enrolled in a Qualified Dental Plan, including 20,853 who selected a family plan during the first year those plans have been available through the Exchange. Of all Qualified Health Plan enrollees, 13 percent also enrolled in a Qualified Dental Plan for coverage in 2017.

With the increase in Exchange enrollment, Washington state continues to see further reduction in the state’s number of uninsured. Since Washington Healthplanfinder went live in 2013, the insured rate has dropped from more than 13 percent to below six percent – the lowest rate in state history.

Residents who do not currently have 2017 health insurance and have recently experienced a qualifying life event can still shop and sign up for coverage using a special enrollment period. Both new and current Washington Healthplanfinder customers can apply for a special enrollment period by creating an account or reporting a change to an existing account at www.wahealthplanfinder.org.

Customers who do not qualify for a special enrollment period must wait until next open enrollment period to sign up for health coverage. The next open enrollment period for Washington Healthplanfinder is set to begin on Nov. 1 and conclude on Dec. 15.

Reminders: Enrollment is offered year-round to individuals and families through Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). Customers enrolled in Apple Health will receive a notice 60 days before the month they enrolled in or renewed their coverage last year. Small business owners have the option of enrolling year-round through Washington Healthplanfinder Business.