Washington Healthplanfinder is offering a limited special enrollment period for those who are currently covered by COBRA but would rather purchase a plan through the state-based insurance exchange.
People who purchase plans through the exchange may be eligible to receive tax credits to help cover the cost of insurance coverage — something not available with COBRA. COBRA allows people to temporarily continue to participate in group health insurance after leaving an employer’s plan, but the cost is generally much greater than their former contribution.
“Switching to a plan on Washington Healthplanfinder can, in some instances, save a person hundreds or thousands of dollars,” said Michael Marchand, exchange spokesman. “For many people, COBRA may have been their only option, and it may have been an expensive option.”
Completed applications must be submitted to the exchange, www.wahealthplanfinder.org, by 11:59 p.m. July 1.
Washington Healthplanfinder does offer special enrollment throughout the year for people with qualifying life events, such as getting married, having a child, adopting a child, involuntarily losing health coverage, moving to a new coverage area or aging out of a parent’s plan.
Limited window to enroll
The exchange requires verifying information — a marriage certificate or birth certificate, for example — to confirm the change, Marchand said. Residents have 60 days from the date of the qualifying life event to enroll in a plan through the exchange.
With COBRA, people typically can only enroll in plans through the exchange if they have an offer for COBRA or their COBRA coverage has expired, Marchand said. People who have already accepted COBRA coverage are not usually eligible to enroll in exchange plans outside of open enrollment, he said.
People with COBRA coverage who elect not to purchase a plan during the special enrollment period will not be able to buy a plan until their COBRA coverage ends or the next open enrollment begins.
The next open enrollment is from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15. Coverage purchased during that time won’t go into effect until Jan. 1.
Enrollment in Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low-income children and adults, is open year-round through the exchange.
