Washington State Healthcare Solutions

Here at Suzie Health Solutions , we have reached the start of Open Enrollment #11. The proposed rate changes for 2024.   This is the time of year that Health Insurance Companies submit their rate proposals to the office of the Insurance Commissioner. The public can then submit their thoughts on the plan proposals for public record.  The Office of the Insurance Commissioner had fourteen health insurance filers with an average rate increase of 9.11% that are under review. These are proposed rates so do not be surprised when some of the rates change.  Proposed Rates If you want to view the individual plans then here is the Health Insurance Rate search engine .  2024 Proposed rate change for Washington's individual health insurance market Health Insurance company Requested rate change Inside/outside Exchange, or both Percentage of market (Consumers effected)* Asuris Northwest Health -3.39% Outside 0.4% (1,057) BridgeSpan Health Company 15.15% Inside 0.4% (1,092) Co...

An insurance plan is not set in stone. Apple Health is an insurance program that when your income changes more than $150 a month then you need to report the income change. If you make over the specified income limit then you are not eligible for Apple Health and may qualify for a reduced cost plan. We have been talking to people and some are very unaware of the change that is almost upon us.  Apple Health is what Washington State Medicaid has been called since 2013. They renamed it when the Affordable Care Act changed Healthcare in the United States. There is a ton of cool state names like Husky Health, MedQuest, BadgerCare, Green Mountain Care....etc. There are groups that help people understand and enroll in Apple Health with out charging a fee.  Suzie Health Solutions is one of ten Enrollment Centers in Washington State that work with the Washington Healthplanfinder. We have to meet special conditions like explaining all plans on the Healthplanfinder and not charging fees...

  At the Enrollment Center , we get asked this alot. Matt has assisted with 10 Open Enrollments helping thousands of people get healthcare. There are 10 Enrollment Centers in Washington State and you can catch Matt in Wenatchee's most of the time. If you need insurance help in Washington State then an easy way to contact him on his office's landing page .  Special enrollment periods (SEPs) for health insurance are periods of time outside of the regular open enrollment period during which certain individuals are able to enroll in or make changes to their health insurance coverage. SEPs are typically available to people who have experienced certain life events, such as the birth of a child, marriage, loss of other coverage, or a permanent move to a new area. In general, the following individuals are typically eligible to enroll in health insurance during a SEP: • People who have recently had a child, adopted a child, or placed a child for foster care. • People who have rece...

 Each year at The Suzie @ Wenatchee Insurance  we talk about rates in June . It is one of the few times that the public has a chance to lower their insurance rates. If you follow our podcast or facebook page then you have a greater chance of knowing when this occurs. We even did a follow up video about the thousands of Washington State Residents that were able to purchase Healthcare for $1 or less.  For 2021 thanks to ARPA, nearly half were paying $100 or less for a qualified health plan and these savings will continue through 2022 at least!  The office of the Insurance Commissioner has released some results. The first round impacts the plans found on the Washington Healthplanfinder . If you are not using this tool to shop for insurance then you should just because of the American Rescue Plan's lowering of rates through 2022. Since the adjustment to the top bracket opened up reduced pricing to the upper income brackets, there is very little reason to be shopping ...

  February of 2020 has been over a year ago. We were preparing for a Home show to talk to thousands of people about running the Enrollment Center in Wenatchee and other Suzie Health Solutions options. We thought that all we would need was an touch free hand sanitizer. How little did  we know. We masked up and ran most of last year with one Special Enrollment or another. From Covid Special Enrollments to finishing up with the wildfire special enrollments for the End of 2020. The last Covid Special Enrollment has been going from February 15th through August 15th. Millions of Americans have received coverage during this special enrollment and they are receiving lower rates.  We are excited to have a few months to train and just focus on special enrollments. Special Enrollments are documented reasons that allow a person to get health insurance. Some of the reasons are losing employer coverage, moving into the area when you had coverage, getting married when one of you had ...

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.  Special Interview with Coordinated Care CEO There are enhanced features such as ability to assist with ...

Hey, dialing in from the Wenatchee Enrollment Center . Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, healthcare has gotten cheaper for 2022. If nothing is done then it will skyrocket in 2023 for some of the people. That is for a different blog.  Here is the teaser of what we are looking at in Central Washington: Again, we are the most or second most expensive zone in the state for the health insurance plans. Healthcare is a team event with a dance between Providers and Insurance companies. When you have large areas to cover with only a few providers, providers can drive up the price. If you are concerned with the trend in Central Washington then our largest providers can be reached at: Confluence Health   Columbia Valley Community Health   A simple comment of could help:  Insurance Companies have left our area and have had to raise rates. We have some of the highest rates in the state for health insurance. The Health Insurance companies are required by law to pay back fun...

  We are a couple of weeks away from Pride Month. Matt got into supporting Gay marriage early because that was the only way to get equality when it came to retirement planning. The model in Washington State of domestic partnership didn't allow people to roll over annuities and forced them to cash them out early. Matt has been advocating for equality for a while . Here and Here  and here .  So let’s get down to some reminders before June arrives. 1.        The American Rescue Plan Act will significantly address LGBTQ Poverty .   We have been talking about this since last March and are enrolling people that need healthcare and making sure that they are receiving eligible benefits. There is a Special Enrollment right now.  a.        The Increased in tax credits is a massive change so if you have skipped health insurance then shop. In Washington State the new pricing goes into effect the mont...

  Here at Wenatchee Insurance , we have been working with Healthcare because of the Affordable Care Act . Matt has been writing insurance for nearly a decade. He transitioned from property from a customer request. Suzie is second generation Insurance coming over from being a Pharmacy Technician for nearly two decades. We are going on five years of running the enrollment center in Wenatchee with the Healthplanfinder.  Give us a call (509-295-9055) or grab an appointment if you could use some help navigating health insurance. We charge zero fees.  The Affordable Care Act had a historic number of hours of debate and amendments during Committee development.  It was a massive law covering insurance coverages, healthcare costs and preventative care. It added protective rights called the Patient Bill of Rights that protected consumers, required insurance to cover 10 essential health benefits , a means for those with  low income to get coverage and a new way for th...

Since Wenatchee Insurance is the Full Service Enrollment Center located in Wenatchee, we receive a lot of requests about Apple Health. We wrote an early blog post about low and no cost care for children . We assist people with all income levels with professional assistance. We do not get paid for every policy that we write but that doesn't stop us from helping people.  Healthcare can be confusing. We always recomend connecting with a no cost broker and a navigator so that you get maximum customer service. For example if there is a payment issue with a insurance company and we are connected then we can sort it out quicker if there is an established affiliation.  One of the topics that came up recently is what is the difference of the three Apple Health Managed Care Providers. This blog post is going to hopefully answer those questions. Here we go: Fast Comparison Chart Amerigroup Washington . I strongly suggest that you check out their members handbook  as they go throug...