It’s Time to Shop for Health Insurance! 

2018 Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15, 2017 in Washington State

• Plans sold during Open Enrollment start as early as January 1, 2018.
• After January 15, you can enroll in 2018 health insurance only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

If you already have insurance, take a look at the policies now available before you renew – you may be able to save money or improve your coverage by transferring to a new policy through the exchange. In order to take advantage of subsidies and tax credits, do your shopping through Washington State’s healthcare marketplace. For those that live outside of Washington, your state may have its own healthcare marketplace. If not, or if you’re unsure, start with the federal government’s marketplace site.

2017 coverage –

Are you in need of health insurance for the remainder of 2017? Open Enrollment for 2017 health coverage ended January 31, 2017. You can still get 2017 health insurance two ways:

• If you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a life event like losing other coverage, getting married, or having a baby.
• If you qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can apply any time.

Don’t Over-Report Your Income!

The amount you pay for health insurance is based on your household size and income. Workers’ compensation benefits—both time loss and pension – are NOT taxable income. Do not include your time loss or pension payments in your household income figure when applying for health insurance through the exchange or through a Navigator. Veteran’s payments are also excluded from your gross income figure. 

The Affordable Care Act is Working! 

NY Times Analysis: The Impact of Obamacare, in Four Maps

Since 2013, when the major provisions of Obamacare went into effect, the uninsured rate has fallen in every state. And some states that you might not expect have led the way.

The news about the Affordable Care Act has been grim lately: The price of health plans in new marketplaces is up, and choice is declining in many places. But amid the difficulties, new data highlight the law’s effectiveness in getting coverage for millions of Americans.

Over all, the gains are substantial: a seven-percentage-point drop in the uninsured rate for adults.