The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is nearing the end of its open enrollment period to sign up for health and dental plans for 2020. The Exchange will remain open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
About 248,000 Washingtonians buy health insurance on the individual market, because they don’t get health insurance coverage through their employer. Most of them shop on the Health Benefit Exchange, the state’s online insurance marketplace.
This year’s rollout included an early sneak preview of plans, where consumers could view their options for a week before open enrollment. Health Benefit Exchange Chief Marketing Officer Michael Marchand said the new feature should help people get a jump-start on selecting a plan.
Since the open enrollment period began in November, more than 187,000 Washingtonians have selected health plans, according to an exchange press release.
“If they can get in and take a look before the shopping window, it gives them a chance to review their options ahead of time,” Marchand told The Columbian in October.
An average insurance rate decrease of 3.25 percent was approved for the 2020 market.
Clark County residents can choose from BridgeSpan Health Co. (newly offered in the county), Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, Molina Healthcare of Washington, PacificSource Health Plans, Providence Health Plan and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.
PacificSource Health Plan and Providence Health Plan are new to the market.
“It is important customers act now in order to secure coverage that begins on Jan. 1,” Marchand said in a press release. “Help is available to all Washingtonians needing to go through the plan selection process. We encourage residents to utilize the exchange’s customer support resources to select health and dental coverage that begins as soon as possible.”
