Washington State Healthcare Solutions

What happens when you have a new program in Washington State that get's people zero cost silver plans? You tell everyone that you can. Here is the five minute video on the details. We are one of the eleven enrollment centers and we have been excited about this program for a few weeks. One of the big things that COVID highlighted was the importance of child care. The legislatures saw this and so they made child care on the Washington Healthplanfinder no cost for certain plans.   We are making it as easy as possible. 1. Select a time and method that works best for you.  2. We will enroll and upload any documents that you might need. 3. The program managers will confirm your name on the list from Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families.  4. If you have any questions throughout the year you can contact Suzie Health Solutions . 

Here we go with some COVID relief for the unemployed.  Beginning September 21st, Employment Security will begin processing payments of an additional $300 per week to the state base weekly  unemployment benefit approved under the Lost Wages Assistance FEMA Payment.  There is only five weeks approved for weeks August 1st - Sept 5th.  The Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payments is not countable for Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) eligibility but is countable for tax credit and cost-sharing reductions. We have been advised to not include the $300 Lost Wages Assistance FEMA payment in your weekly unemployment income amount reported to the Washington Healthplanfinder application.  You should choose to adjust their Qualified Health Plan tax credits by adjusting the amount of tax credits applied to their premium in Washington Healthplanfinder . If you under estimate your income and use more tax credits than you are qualified for then you must pay those back when you fi...

We are deep into our second month of assisting people with enrolling in healthcare. Our main page always has good basic information including how to find us. This fall will be our eight open enrollment that we have assisted people with health-plans with out adding a fee. On to the questions. Did you receive a $1200 check to help you get by during Covid-19 stay at home/ quarantine? How about the extra $600 in unemployment. The help for the plans on the Washington Healthplanfinder are driven by income. If your income is not reported accurately then you could be overpaying for your healthcare or you could be required to pay back money when you file your taxes the following year. Let's take care of the top questions . special enrollment rules 1. Do I need to change the income in the Healthplanfinder for the $1200 check? The answer is a resounding no. The $1200 per person ($500 for children) does not count as income and does not need to be reported. 2. I am drawing an extra...

Enrollment Centers in Washington State are unique as people are able to get help with out extra charges. We provide Statewide help for the Washington Health Benefits Exchange. Consumers get no cost help in selecting and enrolling in health and dental plans through the Washington Healthplanfinder. There is wi-fi available.  As a bonus, the broker partners may provide additional assistance with additional insurance products such as Medicare, Supplemental and Life Insurance products so ask. At Wenatchee , we upload documents, notarize and do our best to assist our clients in effectively using healthcare. Hands Free Hand Sanatizer Broker Affiliated Enrollment Centers Wenatchee Suzie & Matt 413 N Mission Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801 1-509-295-9055 Schedule an appointment suzie@wenatcheeinsurance.com Bellingham Rice Insurance 1400 Broadway Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 1-360-734-1161 keith@riceinsurance.com Kennewick The Advisor Benefits Group 5101 W. Cl...

Hey from Suzie at Wenatchee Insurance. We have been doing some updates. Have you seen what has been going on at our Website ?  So we started a blog this week. We wanted people to get information in 1/2 hour light chunks. We have two episodes up so far. You can find us on Spotify , Google and Apple so far. You can also find us on PODBEAN .

Suzie and Matt work at Wenatchee Insurance Agency in Wenatchee, WA. In addition to running the Full Service Enrollment Center for the Washington Healthplanfinder . We help people navigate through Medicare without charging fees and assist in filling in any coverage gaps.  So far Centers for  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS ) has not opened a special enrollment with FEMA under the declared  Emergency . But there are some special benefits going on for Medicare enrollees because of the Emergency Waver .  As a result of the Covid- 19 outbreak, have you lost your group health insurance offered through your or your spouse's job? Are you age 65 or older? If so, you, or someone you know in the same situation, should enroll in Medicare coverage right away as you most likely qualify for a Special Enrollment Period . If you already signed up for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) while you were actively working, you’ll need to complete the fol...

It is hard to get information to the public these days. We use social media, inform the newspapers, do radio ads. One of the ones that we like to do is posters for events. It shows that they care about their customers and recognize that people need assistance in getting help with Healthcare. Take a moment to thank them and visit them if you have not done so. It is people like these that we make our home in Central Washington. In no particular order, thank you: Washington Healthplanfinder they run the tool that 1 in 4 Washington Citizens use to enroll in healthcare.  Suzie Health Solutions they run the full service enrollment center in Wenatchee. They help people solve their insurance questions for life and health with out charging a fee.  Washington Valley Pharmacy has pharmacies in East Wenatchee and Quincy. They will be providing flu shots at the Health Fair!  Mercantile provides vibrant work space in downtown Wenatchee for small businesses. ...

When you qualify for Medicare , it is an important time in your life as you are literally making decisions that affect the rest of your life. You are usually either transitioning from a qualified health plan from your employer, three months before or after your birthday, or have become disabled. You have benefits during your initial enrollment period that you may not be aware of. If you miss your initial enrollment then you have restrictions and possibly penalties . Our busiest seasons. A no charge agent means just that, we don’t charge additional fees to assist you and answer your questions throughout the year. If you select or change plans with the assistance of a no charge agent then we receive compensation from the insurance company managing the plan. Yes, there are some cases that you can simply select an agent of record by signing a form, but there are certain plans that once you have selected an agent, they are attached until you switch plans or for the rest...

On September 12, 2019 the Office of the Insurance Commissioner approved the plans with a record low rate. The average rate of decrease for theplans was 3.27% . We have insurance companies expanding their coverage . The W ashington Health Benefit Exchange Board later approved the plans .   Remember, we all get one year older every year so do not count on a full percentage decrease.  Open Enrollment is November 1 st through December 15 th grab an appointment today . Heavy Enrollment in Eastern Washington in 2019 This is good news to all our customers in Washington State.   It shows the individual market on the Health BenefitExchange is stabilizing. There have been proposals for Reinsurance and adding a state individual mandate both of would lower prices.   We will see if the Legislature takes the necessary steps to further lower rates. Customers will be able to enjoy the lower rates starting January 1 st , 2020.   We like to focus on the ex...

Today is myth busting for the price of healthcare in Washington State. We run Suzie Health Solutions , a Full Service Enrollment Center in Wenatchee, WA . We are trained and answer questions all year round for our clients. It is like having your personal HR department that works for you.  In a recent survey of Uninsured , 2 out of 3 didn't even try to get healthcare with 1 out of 3 thinking price was a problem. The majority probably qualified to get reduced cost or no out of pocket to them. I found it a little strange that people didn't know what their options were deciding to gamble with a solutions. I don't want my neighbors to not get their kids to the doctor because they didn't get healthcare during open enrollment.  We make it easy to get help. Open Enrollment is very short running November 1st through Dec 15th for Healthcare. Medicare Enrollments are October 15th through December 7th. Outside of that time frame, you need documented reasons. It is wh...

I see more value to using the established systems than trying to recreate the wheel. Most of us insurance professionals are using exchanges so we just have to work on making it consumer friendly. I know that the brokers are a dwindling resource because most get torn up between customer needs and insurance company’s demands. Some companies have failed to pay brokers as they rely on the exchanges for their sales force, while others that have reduced their support to the point that some brokers have had to resort to charging additional fees to keep the lights on. If you ever need any help or want me in the room then let me know and we will be happy to be a resource for you. Here are a few talking points to improve the current system. –Matt McColm at www. Wahbroker.org A. The high risk pools proven to be unsuccessful in providing affordable service to the small population that they served. We recommend reinstating the reinsurance corridors to the companies participating in the Health ...

The information for Native American Services is spread pretty out. (The ACA is probably one of the worst marketed programs ever). Here are the basics for individuals that have their tribal affiliation. 1. At 300% or less of poverty level (400% in Alaska) you get the no cost sharing (the zero co-pays). This year that is $35,640 per year with a modified adjusted gross income. Which is fancy talk for you can write off some income and qualify for better rates. 2. You can enroll throughout the year. 3. You can apply for an exception for the tax penalty. 4. Improvements to existing Indian Health Services. I always recommend using a no-cost broker. (Ask up front if they charge because some are needing to charge). We don't charge fees, are licensed by the state, trained how plans work, and can help with situations like this. If you have any questions then let me know I am always glad to help out. Websites for more information: https://www.ihs.gov/aca/thingstoknow/ http://www.hh...

Suzie has been working hard. THese last couple of months adding new policies for Medicare Advantage plans all over the state. I made her sit down and do a county by county search to see if we could offer more plans as we are getting questions from all over. When you can cover under 65 with Healthcare and Prescription Plans (Part D) for the entire state then we knew that we could do more. For us it has always been about families helping families and this year we are prepared to help even more. Check out the coverage area for 2017.

Starting January 15, 2016, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) will be mailing Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) clients a new tax form named the 1095-B. The 1095-B form provides of each month the client had minimum essential health coverage in 2015 through Washington Apple Health. The Health Care Authority transmits this information electronically to the IRS. Apple Health clients should keep the form for their records, since it contains important information they will need to complete their 2015 tax return. In some cases, people may get more than one tax form – such as 1095-A, 1095-, or 1095-C – depending on their employer and the kind of health coverage they had during 2015: · The 1095-A is furnished by the state’s Health Insurance Marketplace (Health Benefit Exchange) · The 1095-B can also be furnished by other government-sponsored programs, employer-sponsored group health plans, and more. · State employees and retirees enrolled in the Un...

‘My job offered me a plan for $60 a month but it has a huge deductible, do I have to take it? Last year it was $400 when I visited my doctor.’ We get these questions on a regular basis. I don't expect people to spend money on things that don't work or pay a penality when they don't have to . The employer offers a health plan that covers the employer for the Affordable Health Care Penalty but does very little to help the employee or their family. In Washington State, we have our own state exchange with a lot of plans. So many plans that brokers spend months learning plans so that we can help our clients get the most out of their money. There are Health Insurance companies that will only offer their plans using the state exchange. There are also some that are priced down to the point where a 28 year old was able to get health insurance for $209 a month with a $20 co pay to see his doctor without tax credits! There are times when it is best if a job does not offer health i...

1. Well, I found a first trap because of excessive exchange funding. This effects all clients that have had apple health. Clients are now able to get extensions automatically on their apple health up to a year at a time. I have a family that is now at 200%+ of the poverty level that was granted this extension. Their healthcare is paid by tax dollars and as their broker I receive zero commission. Would you like to make $60,000+ a year and have medicaid for the entire family? Previous to the ACA brokers were paid $100 per enrollment with an average of 10% of people a year coming off medicaid during any given year. 2. If you have been following this was an excerpt from a Health Care Authority recent audit sent Oct 23rd. HCA regularly conducts audits of Washington Apple Health eligibility. Recent audits by HCA found numerous cases of inaccurate income reported on Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) applications in Healthplanfinder. Clients found to have discrepancies in their reporte...

The Director for the Wenatchee Senior Center dopped in and gave Suzie McColm her plaque. It was the first one that she achieved. She has been helping for years people fill their prescriptions at the local pharmacies struggle. The struggle could have been from not having insurance to having a bad plan. When she had enough, she rolled up her sleeves, got her insurance license and started helping with the affordable care act. After her first year helping, she wanted to help more with Seniors so Medicare was a natural for her. She still helps as a pharmacy tech these days but her passion is helping people on the front in with insurance. Stop in and say hi to a proud member of our team .

2016 is shaping up to be a big year for health insurance in Washington State. We are now looking at: • 180 approved plans on the Washington Health Benefits Exchange . • A 4.2 percent Increase approved by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. • Regence Blue Shield’s Innova plan is the state’s essential health benefit (EHB) benchmark plan so the tax credits are changing. Our office has been training a few months on the different plans. There are some big differences with new carriers entering the exchange market such as Health Alliance Northwest Plan Inc, Regence BlueShield and United Healthcare of Washington. There have been significant changes in plan structures of Lifewise, Moda and Coordinated Care. We regularly reach out to carriers to find out how they function from customer feedback and with utilizing the products ourselves. Our brokers do the best to distill the information down to a usable format so that our clients can make the best possible choice in carriers. Y...