The Washington Healthplanfinder started the Full Service Enrollment Centers about six years ago. Some are run by small businesses (brokers) and some are run by corporations (navigators). When the Healthplanfinder put out the request, we seemed to be a good fit. There are some rules to operate an Enrollment Center.
1. Easy access to the public and open year round.
2. Enhanced Security and Insurance.
3. Experienced In person assisters.
4. Offer all plans regardless of pay.
5. No additional fees.
From our experience of working with insurance for nearly a decade. Always select a broker. If not us then someone connected to a Enrollment Center. You are already paying for them ($0 Dollars) and if you need assistance or have questions then you have a prepared customer service team. It is an easy way to support a small business and help build a community resource.
There are enhanced features such as ability to assist with Long Term Care, Life Insurance, Medicare, or Travel Insurance that some of the enrollment centers build into their stores. We have added features such as text messaging and reminders that have assisted folks with busy schedules better manage their insurance needs. You might catch us in interviews with local news or even catch up with one of our podcasts.
Here is a map of Enrollment Centers:
Contact an enrollment center in your area who provide Navigators or Insurance Brokers at no cost to you:
Wenatchee
413 N Mission, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: 1-509-295-9055
Schedule an appointment
Email: info@wahbroker.org
Bellingham
Rice Insurance
1400 Broadway Street, Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 1-360-734-1161
Email: keith@riceinsurance.com
Everett
Health Insurance Solutions NW, LLC
7100 Evergreen Way Ste F, Everett, WA 98203
Phone: 1-425-252-5105
Email: neil@his-nw.com
Federal Way
Public Health Seattle & King County
1640 S 318th Pl., Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: 1-800-756-5437
Email: chap@kingcounty.gov
Kennewick
Advisor Health Benefits Group
5101 W. Clearwater Avenue, Ste. 104, Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: 1-509-524-9611
Email: kevin@advisorbenefits.com
Olympia
GHB Insurance
556 Lilly Road SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 1-360-943-4500
Email: ron@ghbinsurance.com
Seattle
Financial Designs
2723 California Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98116
Phone: 1-425-392-7390
Email: cmcclure@financialdesignsinsurance.com
Spokane
Better Health Together Enrollment Center
1209 W 1st Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201
Phone: 1-509-381-5573
Email: bhtnavigatorstaff@BetterHealthTogether.org
Tacoma
FND Insurance & Financial Services, LLC
5515 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Ste 120, Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: 1-253-302-5579
Email: teamfnd@fndinsurance.com
Vancouver
Applied Team Insurance
8513 NE Hazel Dell Ave., Suite 101, Vancouver, WA 98665
Phone: 1-360-726-6092
Email: marlena@appliedteamins.com
Yakima
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
610 Yakima East Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901
Phone: 1-509-853-2377
Email: navigators@ynhs.org
There are some things that you need to be aware of.
1. Always check in during Enrollment. Every November 1st through January 15th there is an enrollment period. Just do a simple check in and make sure your account is accurate and you have a plan selected for the next year. There are changes almost every year and sometimes a five minute call can save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year. We had a big change in pricing May 6th and a lot of people are enjoying lower rates with better coverage.
2. Alway read your mail. They will send you a ton of mail, open in and if you have questions then call your broker and have them answer it. The Healthcare Authority has been known to request documents and can cut off your healthcare if you do not respond to their timeline.
3. Always file your taxes. It is how they double check that a person is not cheating the system. Every year, someone gets their tax credits cut off because they failed to pay taxes. They usually let you know about this beforehand which is why you always read you mail.
4. Always apply for coverage. Outside of open enrollment, things are considered special enrollment. It just means you need a documented reason. You can be making no income and qualify for Apple Health, American Indian/ Alaska Native Health, lost coverage from a job, had coverage and moved to the area, etc. We have seen a ton of Special Enrollments the last couple of years and encourage someone to always enroll at the very least, they have a starting point for when the next Open Enrollment Occurs.
5. If you are a small business then you may not wish to do a small group plans. With the enhanced credits from the American Rescue Plan, your employes may have more choices and lower costs by using the Washington Healthplanfinder. You simply provide an "healthcare stipend" through payroll and introduce them to a enrollment center that you like. At Suzie Health Solutions, we have been doing this for years and have even been invited on site to answer questions for employees saving company resources.
The big takeaway is that you are not alone trying to understand something as complex as healthcare. You have a resource in the local Enrollment Centers where you can get assistance from highly trained small businesses with experience. There are not many places that offer options like these with out charging you extra.
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