Washington State: Open enrollment ends but many residents can still sign up for coverage, including the new Cascade Care Savings program!

via Washington HealthPlanFinder:

Washingtonians who qualify for Cascade Care Savings can still sign up and save

The wait is over — Cascade Care Savings is here! Open enrollment may have ended but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you haven’t purchased a plan. A new special enrollment period is available to individuals and families who make up to 250% of the federal poverty level.

“Cascade Care Savings has opened the door for thousands of Washingtonians to secure high-quality health insurance at any time of the year,” Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) interim CEO Jim Crawford said. “This special enrollment period is available monthly to those who qualify for Cascade Care Savings who are not already in an eligible plan.”

Special enrollment periods open for a variety of reasons — such as moving counties; changing jobs; getting married; or having a baby. Temporary enrollment periods open when these events occur, allowing individuals and families to get a health plan outside of open enrollment. If a person or household applies for a plan prior to the 15th of the month, their new coverage will begin the first day of the following month.

Individuals earning up to $33,975 annually or a family of three earning up to $57,575 may qualify for the Cascade Care Savings special enrollment period, which includes access to plans as low as $0. This allows eligible Washingtonians the opportunity to enroll in a high-quality Cascade Care Silver or Gold and receive Cascade Care Savings, Washington’s new state-funded premium financial assistance. Cascade Care plans have deductibles an average of $1,000 less than non-Cascade plans and cover more services before meeting the deductible — including primary care visits, mental health services and generic medications. Cascade Care Savings builds upon enhanced federal tax credits to provide additional premium savings to those who need it the most.

This is a big deal--households earning up to 150% FPL are eligible to enroll in ACA exchange plans year-round in every state, but Washington is letting folks who earn up to 250% FPL to do so.

Another reason special enrollment periods open is because of a change in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) benefit status. Those who find they make too much to qualify for Apple Health can often find premium savings on Washington Healthplanfinder. More than 75% of Washington Healthplanfinder customers currently receive some sort of premium subsidy.

Find out if you qualify for the Cascade Care Savings Special Enrollment Period by visiting wahealthplanfinder.org; calling the Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday; or find help near you from Washington Healthplanfinder enrollment partners.

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