A “Grand Re-Modeling” for Health Coverage

Last Month, I had an opportunity to take part in the Grand Re-Modeling event to celebrate the renovations that were completed at the Community Health Association of Spokane (CHAS)’s North Maple Clinic. Hundreds of people turned out from across the state to celebrate CHAS’ revitalized capacity to deliver care to our most vulnerable, and it was an honor to be asked to speak at the ceremony.

Right now, that’s how I feel about health reform. Health care is getting a “Grand Re-Modeling” that is making health care more accessible and affordable for hundreds of thousands of people across the state. It’s exciting, and it’s making a difference in our community as we speak.

More than 73,200 people in our community are currently living without health insurance. The gap in our social safety net is real, and its impact on our community can be traumatic and sometimes deadly. But Medicaid expansion and the Health Benefits Exchange take great strides towards bridging that gap.

Medicaid Expansion alone will make healthcare accessible and affordable for more than 24,000 residents of Spokane County who previously were uninsured. Thousands will be able to go to a doctor instead of an emergency room, avoid medical bankruptcy and head off preventable illnesses that can have serious consequences. And this is just a small part of the work being done. As with any major policy change, implementation will have some bumps along the way. But this is a definitive move in the right direction for our community.

Enrollment Begins

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has already done great things for Washington families:

• 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 is available at no cost to women, and
• There are no out-of-pocket costs for preventative services.

Beginning October 1st, people will be able to enroll for coverage using Washington Healthplanfinder, our state’s health insurance exchange. Healthplanfinder is an online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage. Many of the people who sign up will be eligible for wholly or partially subsidized (reduced-price) care, and that is great news for our community.

Washington Healthplanfinder

The Healthplanfinder website is a quick, user-friendly way to enroll for health coverage and compare plans. The site also has a toll-free Customer Support Center up-and-running. Folks can get their questions answered about how it works, what types of health coverage will be offered, how to access financial help and what you need to know about the enrollment process that starts on October 1st. Representatives will be on the line weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. by dialing 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633) or by emailing customersupport@wahbexchange.org. Help will be available in up to 175 languages.

I had an opportunity to tour the facility earlier this week. I was impressed by the high quality of service and the friendly, helpful environment at the center. Additionally, I was encouraged to see that these call center positions are Washington jobs for Washington workers, and most of these jobs are located right here in our community.

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it out to this month’s mobile office at Chairs Coffee. Quite a crowd turned out to join us. It was heartening to see so many people in our community taking time out of their busy day to share their stories and concerns, ask questions, or just say hello.

If you couldn’t make it to Chairs last week, we’ll have another mobile office at the South Perry Farmer’s Market on Thursday, October 17 from 4:00-5:30 PM. I hope to see you there.

Best Regards,

Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane