The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has approved 10 insurers to sell 90 individual health plans inside Washington’s exchange, Washington Health plan finder, in the next open enrollment, which begins in November.
The overall approved average rate change is just 1.9 percent, significantly lower than the exchange insurers’ original request of 8.6 percent.
Two insurers were not approved: United Healthcare of Washington, which asked for eight plans, all to be sold inside the exchange, and Health Alliance Northwest Health Plan, which had asked for seven plans, six inside the exchange. “We’re still working with them,” said Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the state insurance commissioner’s office.
For the first time, a statewide plan to be offered to small businesses has been approved. Kaiser Health Plan of the Northwest and Moda Health Plan have been approved to sell 23 health plans inside the Washington Healthplanfinder Business, formerly known as SHOP. Enrollees in the Kaiser plans, which are available only in Clark and Cowlitz counties will receive an average rate decrease of 3.7 percent. Moda is new to the market and will be available statewide.
The Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange Board is scheduled to certify the approved insurers and their plans at its board meeting Thursday.
Last year, eight health insurers were approved to sell 46 plans in the exchange.
Date: August 27, 2014