Health insurance open enrollment begins Friday, continues through Dec. 15

Oct. 31--Enrollment for health and dental insurance on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, the state-run marketplace for private insurance

plans, begins Friday and ends Dec. 15.

During the open enrollment period, people who don't receive insurance through an employer or who are ineligible for government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare can buy plans on www.wahealthplanfinder.org, the online health insurance marketplace operated by the Washington State Health Care Authority. Users can enter their provider preferences, prescription drug requirements and how much they're able to pay, and can find assistance choosing a plan.

There is no federal mandate to buy insurance, but those purchasing plans must do so during the enrollment period. Coverage starts Jan. 1.

Approximately 248,000 Washington residents who don't get coverage from their employer must buy their own health insurance through the individual market, according to the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

For 2020 coverage, Washington's individual health insurance market grew to 13 insurers with a record average rate decrease of 3.25%, officials said. Average rate changes for each insurer range between -9.15% and 5.25%.

The state's health plan finder website allows side-by-side comparison of the plans being offered in each county. All of Washington's 39 counties have at least one Exchange insurer. Three qualified health plans will be available in Yakima County -- LifeWise (an affiliate of Premera), Kaiser Permanente and Coordinated Care.

Yakima Neighborhood Health Services is offering extended hours to assist those seeking coverage, according to the release. Customers can receive personal assistance at the Hinman Building, 610 E. Yakima Ave., through Dec. 15. For an appointment, call 509-853-2377. Hours are as follows:

* Mondays and Fridays: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

* Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On Saturdays, assistance will be available in the main clinic at 12 S. Eighth St. from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At Neighborhood Health Sunnyside, 617 Scoon Road, assistance will be available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

Neighborhood Health is the lead organization for enrollment in Kittitas and Yakima counties under a contract with the state. Assistance is also available from its partners: Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and Community Health of Central Washington.

For more information, visit www.ynhs.org.

Reach Tammy Ayer at [email protected] or on Facebook.

___

(c)2019 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)

Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.