Get ready for higher premiums on Washington state’s health-care exchange
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board will vote Thursday on the proposal from Insurance Commissioner
Insurance companies had requested a 19.8 percent increase for next year.
"Insurers requested lower average rate changes this year and after our review, we've been able to keep them even lower," Kreidler said in an emailed statement. "That's good news for consumers and for our individual market. Most people buying plans through the Exchange will also qualify for subsidies, which will keep their costs down. But I know there are many people struggling to afford plans and face high deductibles."
At this point last year, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) escaped a couple attempts by
"Our biggest challenge continues to be addressing the rising costs of health care. It's difficult to tackle this issue when there's so much uncertainty at the federal level about the future of health reform, but we must take on the underlying cost-drivers, including the rising costs of prescription drugs if we want to see premiums decrease," he said in his statement.
While
Numbers from the
Kreidler's office is trying to have the rates set for the 59,000 people buying insurance on the individual market outside the exchange by the end of the month or early October. The exchange, with its 207,000 customers, makes up only a portion of the insurance market. Most people get insurance through their employer or through Medicaid or Medicare.
Open enrollment for 2019 coverage in the exchange begins
The
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