WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Health care reform is coming. Here’s what you need to know.

You’ve probably been hearing and reading a lot about the next steps in implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are coming soon. It can seem overwhelming at times, so this may clear up some confusion.

In Washington state, we’ve chosen to go all-in on the ACA (sometimes called Obamacare) – and Washington families are already benefiting from this decision! So far:

  • Sick kids can’t be denied health insurance.
  • Young adults can stay on their parents’ plan until the age of 26.
  • Full coverage of FDA-approved birth control at no cost to women.
  • No out-of-pocket costs for preventative services.

Our state’s health insurance exchange is up and running.

The Exchange, called the Washington Healthplanfinder, is an online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington where multiple health insurance companies compete for business.

WAHPF

The new marketplace also gets rid of the fine print and makes it easier to understand what a plan covers and how much it costs.

Healthplanfinder also has a toll-free Customer Support Center up-and-running.

Click here to learn more about the Healthplanfinder.

We’ve accepted the federal dollars to expand Medicaid.

One of the most important components of the Affordable Care Act is the expansion of the Medicaid program. This means:

  • An additional 385,000 working Washingtonians will be covered by 2020.
  • We will provide health care in the most effective and least expensive setting – saving us all money in the long run.
  • The decision to expand Medicaid saved us $200 million over the next two years alone.

For the first time, adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for enrollment. For a single person, that’s an annual income of $15,864. The household income for children and pregnant women is significantly higher. Click here to learn more about Healthplanfinder.