The Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announced today 2017 rates for insurers selling in Washington Health Benefit Exchange reflect an average 13.1 percent rate increase over 2016 rates. In comparison, insurers selling in Washington’s individual market requested an average 13.5 percent increase.
Notably absent from the group of insurers with plans approved for the Exchange were Regence BlueShield and BridgeSpan. Both companies have submitted plans and rates which are still under review.
2017 insurers with plans approved to be certified by the Exchange, WAHealthPlanFinder.org:
- Community Health Plan of Washington
- Coordinated Care Corporation
- Group Health Cooperative
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest
- LifeWise Health Plan of Washington
- Molina Healthcare of Washington
- Premera Blue Cross
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is quoted in the announcement,
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Click for more informationThe Affordable Care Act has helped thousands of people in our state get access to health insurance. But there’s much more that needs to be done to fix the longstanding issues with our country’s health care system, including addressing affordability.
In June, officials at the Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced more than 169,000 residents had enrolled in qualified health plans through WAHealthplanfinder.org during the most last open enrollment period. That was more than a 10 percent increase over the previous year and about 2.4% of the total state population.
Open enrollment periods begin November 1st and conclude January 31st each year.