Fewer health plans, higher rates approved for Kitsap

Oct. 27--OLYMPIA -- The thousands of Kitsap residents who buy individual and family health insurance plans can expect higher prices and fewer options for 2018.

State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has approved three insurers to sell 2018 plans in the county, according to a Thursday news release. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington, Lifewise Health Plan of Washington and Premera Blue Cross will offer a total of 18 plans for Kitsap residents through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, better known as Healthplanfinder. Kaiser will also sell individual plans outside of the exchange.

Two companies that provided individual coverage in Kitsap in 2017-- BridgeSpan Health and Regence BlueShield -- dropped the county for 2018, while Group Health Cooperative merged with Kaiser.

Kreidler approved significant rate hikes for the three insurers offering 2018 plans in Kitsap. Kaiser Foundation plans to raise rates by an average of 23 percent, Lifewise by 34 percent and Premera Blue Cross by 36 percent. Statewide, insurers selling in the individual market were approved for average rate increases of 36 percent.

Kreidler blamed the price jump on President Donald Trump's decision to stop paying federal subsidies to insurers.

"I'm very disheartened to have to approve these rates," Kreidler said in the news release. "For months, we've struggled with the ongoing uncertainty at the federal level."

Participation in the individual exchange has declined dramatically since 2016, when Kitsap residents had their choice of more than 100 health plans offered by six insurers.

As of March, 5,617 county residents were enrolled in exchange plans while another 44,500 were enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid) plans.

Open enrollment for 2018 exchange plans begins Nov. 1. Apple Health enrollment is open all year.

For enrollment information, go to wahealthplanfinder.org. For more information on approved plans and rate changes for 2018, go to insurance.wa.gov.

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