By Aaimee Johnson from The Orcas Affordable Care Collaborative
Washington State has been extremely proactive in its efforts to be ready for Medicaid expansion (the State Medicaid program is expanding to cover adults who meet income criteria) and enrollment for insurance coverage through the Washington State Exchange. “More people than ever before will qualify for financialhelp to pay for coverage. Depending on how much you earn, you can qualify for a free or low-cost health plan, or be eligible for financial help that can lower the cost of your premiums and co-pays”
(https://www.wahbexchange.orR/info-you/individuals-and-families).
The first open enrollment lasts six months beginning October 1, 2013 and running until March 31, 2014.
Approved coverage begins January 1, 2014.The application will be available at the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Website www.wahbexchange.org beginning October 1, 2013. The website is up and running now and has a calculator feature to help estimate your cost and tax credits as well as provide answers to many questions you may have.
On September 3rd, a Customer Support Call Center opened the phone lines to answer questions about the enrollment process, health coverage options, and financial help. Representatives are available now to help in 175 languages, weekdays from 7:30am until 8:00pm, toll free at 855-923-4633.
In order to help our community navigate the website and complete the application, representatives from Orcas Family Connections, Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Library, Orcas Island School District, Orcas Medical Center, Orcas Family Health Center, and San Juan County Health and Community Services are working on a collaborative effort (the Orcas Affordable Care Collaborative) to create access points where application assistance and computers will be available.
There will be several Orcas individuals trained to assist those who need help with the applications. Aaimee Johnson and Dixie Morrison from Orcas Family Health Center will be trained as Certified Application Counselors. At least 4 individuals will be trained by the State as In-Person Assisters: Erin O’Dell and Kalie McGinnis from Orcas Family Connections, Michael Moss and Pegi Groundwater from the Orcas Medical Center. Orcas broker David Ecklund, C.L.U. has gone through brokerage training and will also be available.
More volunteers will be trained later in the fall to help with the local enrollment process.
Because the initial open enrollment will last six months (Medicaid enrollment will be year-round) the feeling is that we can relax and let the system settle down before we dive in. In the mean time, you can visit the website www.wahbexchange.org and look for future information from the Orcas Affordable Care Collaborative. If you would like to volunteer to help, please call Orcas Family Connections at 376-3184.
The intent of the Affordable Care Act is to increase access to health care, and improve quality and affordability. This should also reduce the one billion dollars a year that hospitals and providers write off for charity care or bad debt. Coverage options will finally be available for thousands of Washingtonians who have not been able to afford health insurance.
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My wife and I currently pay for health insurance directly. The WA Exchange calculator shows that it will cut my healthcare insurance cost by about 60%.
I look forward to learning more. I especially want to understand more about the various levels – silver, gold, etc., what the implications are for higher and lower levels, and how catastrophic medical issues are handled?