EDITORIAL: State help in finding health insurance benefits public

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin (WA)

Nov. 03--In America, health insurance is a big issue.

As individuals, it's a critical issue -- particularly if health-care expenses are gobbling up your income.

At this point, all the shouting in Washington, D.C., over whether repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act or fixing it is the best solution, is just noise.

Right now, at least in Washington state, folks are on the clock to buy a health insurance policy. To many, that means finding one that works for their family and is within their means.

Washington, with a population of about 7 million, is one of 11 states operating its own marketplace. State officials have set an enrollment period from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. Customers in Washington can find and compare plans and sign up for coverage on the Washington HealthPlanFinder website.

The Seattle Times reports about 180,000 people use the state's exchange. Most Washingtonians still receive health insurance through work, while 151,000 buy insurance on the individual market outside the exchange, and an estimated 300,000 buy from health associations.

It's not going to be simple to sift through the information to pick the plan that is right for a family and that is within its means.

Politics and new federal policies have added to an already confusing system.

President Trump signed an order last month to halt subsidy payments to insurers from Congress. Michael Marchand, chief marketing officer and spokesman for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, said the majority of consumers benefiting from subsidies use the Silver Plans. Customers who qualify will still receive the cost-sharing subsidies from insurance companies, not the government.

Nevertheless, customers using the Silver Plan will get hit with a premium rate increase of 9 percent to 27 percent because of the loss of federal help.

Bringing some stability to the issue would be of help. Yet, it's not likely to occur this year. It means consumers in need of health care, which remains mandatory, need to sift through the information themselves or reach out to groups that offer help. Information is available at healthcare.gov.

"At the end of the day, it's not about how the rates went up or who caused the rates to go up," Marchand said. "It is about, 'am I getting the best insurance for my family?'"

It is unfortunate that, as a nation, there is little clarity on the future of health care insurance.

So for now, at least, those who have only lousy options will have go with the least objectionable. Given that, access to help in Washington state is a positive in this bleak situation.

Editorials are the opinion of the Union-Bulletin's Editorial Board. The board is composed of Brian Hunt, Rick Eskil, James Blethen and Alasdair Stewart

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