Number of people with health insurance grows

The Washington State Health Benefit Exchange says the number of qualified health plan enrollees in Spokane County increased to 12,570 as of Jan. 31, up 12 percent from 11,260 in September.

In September 2015, Spokane County had 10,370 qualified plan enrollees, reports the benefits exchange.

Spokane County has the fourth-highest number of qualified plan enrollees in the state, behind King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties.

Across the state, more than 200,000 Washingtonians signed up for health care coverage during the most recent open enrollment period, which began Nov. 1 and ended on Jan. 31, according to the benefit exchange.

In addition, the number of Spokane County residents enrolled in the state and federally funded Medicaid program, called Apple Health, increased to 133,800 as of Jan. 31, up from 131,600 in September. In September 2015, 123,200 Spokane County residents were enrolled in Apple Health.

Among counties where residents are enrolled in the state and federally funded Medicaid program, Spokane County ranked fourth once again, behind King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Since Washington Healthplanfinder debuted in 2013, the statewide uninsured rate has dropped from more than 13 percent to below 6 percent-the lowest percentage in the state's history, according to the benefit exchange.

The exchange is a four-year-old private and governmental partnership that administers the Washington Healthplanfinder online enrollment program in qualified health plans. Today, one in four state residents now has coverage through the benefit exchange, which bills itself as the state's health insurance marketplace.

Qualified health plans are operated by private insurers and can be federally subsidized through income tax credits based on enrollees' incomes.

"More than 204,000 residents of the state enrolled in a 2017 qualified health plan; that's a 23 percent increase from last year," says Ben Spradling, an Olympia-based spokesman for the benefit exchange.

The next open enrollment period for Washington Healthplanfinder will occur from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, Spradling says.

In an April 19 press release, exchange CEO Pam MacEwan says, "Our continued enrollment growth is further evidence of the critical role Washington Healthplanfinder plays in connecting residents with health and dental coverage. As the health insurance for one in four Washingtonians, we remain committed to providing access to affordable health care to everyone in Washington state."

Nearly 1.8 million state residents are enrolled in health care plans through Washington Healthplanfinder, and 1.5 million are enrolled in Washington Apple Health, says the benefit exchange.

The average monthly premium cost for a customer enrolled in a subsidized, qualified health plan this year is $231, which is $157 less than the cost paid by customers enrolled in a nonsubsidized plan, the benefit exchange says.

In its first year, which was 2016, a total of 23,500 customers from around the state enrolled in a qualified dental plan. Of all the qualified health plan enrollees, 13 percent also enrolled in a qualified dental plan for coverage this year, reports the benefits exchange.

Residents who currently don't have health insurance-but have experienced a qualifying life event recently -still can shop and sign up for coverage. Qualifying life events include marriage, birth, adoption, placement for adoption, and placement in foster care, the benefit exchange says.