Pam MacEwan, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange), today announced that she will be stepping down from guiding the state’s health insurance marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder, an organization she has served for nearly 10 years. She has held the role of CEO for more than six years.
The move will be effective as of June and the Exchange Board will be appointing an interim CEO in the coming weeks.
“It has been the capstone of my career to serve the people of Washington as CEO of the Exchange,” said MacEwan. “What we have been able to accomplish in my time at the Exchange has been nothing short of remarkable. Given the strength of our organization, I feel that now is the right time. The Exchange has emerged as an innovative leader in health care and is poised to continue to break new ground in bringing access to health to all Washingtonians.”
240,000 Washingtonians signed up for coverage; Cascade Care enrollment more than doubled in year two
Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) released today its initial 2022 open enrollment data. A record 240,000 Washingtonians signed up for 2022 coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. This represents an increase of more than 6% over 2021.
Washington Healthplanfinder Open Enrollment Ends This Week
Customers have until Saturday, Jan. 15 to select 2022 health care coverage
Olympia, WA: Washingtonians still seeking health care coverage for 2022 must act now to select a plan on Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. The annual open enrollment period, which allows anyone to sign up for coverage, ends this Saturday, Jan. 15. Customers have until midnight on Saturday to sign up for coverage which begins Feb. 1.
Anyone seeking assistance signing up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder may contact the Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633; TTY: 855-627-9604. Throughout this year’s open enrollment period, Customer Support Center wait times have averaged less than thirty seconds.
Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) reports that as of Dec. 24, over 230,000 customers have signed up for health coverage for 2022, an increase of 7% over last year. That number includes nearly 30,000 new customers who have signed up so far this year. Washingtonians still looking for 2022 coverage have until the final open enrollment deadline of Jan. 15 to sign up through Washington Healthplanfinder, the online marketplace operated by the Exchange.
Not only is 230K up 7% over the same point last year, it's already up 3.3% over last year's final OEP enrollment total (222,731 QHP selections). They'll have to add at least 13,300 more between now and January 15th in order to beat the state's all-time record set in 2018, however.
Washington Healthplanfinder Sees Surge in Customers as Final 2022 Deadline Approaches
Select a plan by Jan. 15 for coverage that begins Feb. 1
Thousands of Washingtonians signed up for health coverage over the past week on Washington Healthplanfinder to beat the Dec. 15 deadline for coverage that will begin Jan. 1. With that date now passed, individuals still seeking 2022 health coverage have until Jan. 15, 2022 to shop on Washington Healthplanfinder for coverage that begins Feb. 1.
“We were glad to see a record number of enrollees secure coverage that starts Jan. 1,” said Chief Executive Officer Pam MacEwan. “And we want to encourage customers who still have not signed up to do so before Jan. 15. It’s especially important this year because there are so many opportunities for savings.”
This open enrollment period has seen a record number of Washingtonians sign up for health care coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. Currently, more than 217,000 customers have selected a new plan or reenrolled in their existing coverage for 2022. Individuals seeking coverage that will start on Jan. 1, 2022 have until Dec. 15 to enroll.
This is up slightly from the 212,815 QHPs reported in Washington State as of 11/27 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this morning, which makes sense since the 217K figure presumably runs through 12/08.
Early Childhood Education Workers Highlighted During National Week of Action
New State Program Offers Zero Dollar Health Coverage for Those Who Qualify
This week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are spotlighting early childhood education workers during a National Week of Action. Coinciding with that event, Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) is showcasing a new affordability program, for employees of child care facilities across Washington State. Employees of licensed child care facilities who qualify can receive high quality health care coverage with no monthly premiums. The program is available exclusively through the state’s online health insurance marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder.
Over 208,000 Washington Residents Sign Up During First Week of Washington Healthplanfinder Open Enrollment
Most customers can save by comparing plans
The annual open enrollment period for Washingtonians seeking health care coverage in 2022 began Monday, Nov. 1. Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) reports over 208,000 customers in Washington have already secured health coverage for 2022 through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online insurance marketplace.
More Options, Expanded Savings Available Now During Washington Healthplanfinder’s 2021 Open Enrollment Period
Beginning Monday, Nov. 1, Washingtonians seeking health coverage can shop, compare and sign up by visiting Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. The annual open enrollment period allows all new and existing customers a chance to sign up or change health plans for the upcoming year.
“As our communities begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know Washingtonians are looking toward the future,” said Exchange Chief Executive Officer, Pam MacEwan. “The security of health care coverage is an important part of the way forward for Washington. We encourage anyone looking for coverage to come take advantage of new options and more savings than ever before.”
Back in July, I posted a summary of Washington State's preliminary 2022 ACA premium rate change filings for the individual and small group markets. At the time, WA carriers were requesting average increases of 5.5% for the former and 4.1% for the latter.
A few weeks back (Sept. 20th), the state insurance dept. issued their final/approved rate changes for 2022...but only for the individual market, and even then, only for carriers offering on-exchange policies. The small group filings and those for 3 of the 15 individual market carriers which only offer off-exchange policies are still pending review. However, those three only have a combined total enrollment of around 1,300 people, and the requested rate change for one of them partly cancels out the other two, so unless there's some truly eyebrow-raising changes to the final rates, I don't expect this to move the needle much:
Average 4.17% rate change approved for 2022 Exchange health insurance market
