Clark County residents looking to purchase health coverage for 2017 through the state-based insurance exchange have only 20 options offered by four insurers. And those plans will likely cost more than they did this year.
The state Office of the Insurance Commissioner released on Wednesday the approved plans and rates for the 2017 marketplace. Statewide, nine insurers were approved to sell 98 plans on the Washington Healthplanfinder exchange. In addition, seven insurers will sell 56 plans outside of the exchange.
The premiums for health plans statewide in 2017 will be an average of 13.6 percent higher than this year. The amount each person’s premium will change depends on where they live, their age, whether or not they smoke, which plan they select and how many people are covered.
“We knew that it would be difficult for the health insurers to initially set their rates without knowing who would sign up for coverage and what services they would use,” said Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler in a news release. “In fact, we were surprised when rates came in significantly lower than predicted in the first few years of the Affordable Care Act.”
Health plan help
• What: Washington Healthplanfinder enrollment center, offering free health plan enrollment assistance.
• Where: 7720 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 110, Vancouver.
• When: Opens Nov. 1; hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Evening and weekend appointments available.
• Contact: 360-726-6092 or donna@appliedteamins.com.
“I do believe this year’s change is a one-time adjustment, and that we’ll see premiums level off as insurers gain experience and more people get covered,” he said.
In Clark County, Bridge- Span Health Company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and LifeWise Health Plan of Washington will again offer plans on the exchange. Molina Healthcare of Washington has expanded and will offer plans in Clark County as well.
UnitedHealthcare of Washington and Moda Health Plan both offered plans locally last year but have since left the state marketplace.
In 2017, Kaiser is offering eight plans, including a catastrophic plan (the only insurer to do so locally). BridgeSpan is offering five plans in Clark County and Lifewise is offering four plans. Molina has three plans available locally.
In addition, Kaiser will offer eight plans outside of the exchange, and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon will offer five plans outside of the exchange. Plans purchased outside of the exchange are not eligible for subsidies.
All of the insurers offering plans locally will increase their premiums.
Kaiser’s premiums are increasing by an average of 11.34 percent. BridgeSpan rates are increasing by an average of 11.9 percent and LifeWise plans by 9.3 percent. Molina plan premiums will increase by an average of 7.35 percent and Regence plans by 15.16 percent.
About 320,000 people purchase health coverage through the state exchange. In Clark County, about 11,300 purchased plans for 2016.
Last year, nearly 70 percent of people enrolled through the exchange received a subsidy that lowered their premiums by an average of 44 percent, according to the exchange.
“The Affordable Care Act is doing what it was designed to do — helping people access health insurance,” Kreidler said in the news release. “But we must do more as a country to address the cost of health care. People have health insurance they can’t afford to use because deductibles are too high and prescription drug costs are skyrocketing, contributing significantly to rising premiums.
“Now, it’s time for Congress to come together to make meaningful improvements to the law, just like we’ve done with every other major reform — such as Social Security and Medicare — that help millions of Americans,” he added.
Open enrollment for the individual market begins Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 31.
