During the most recent open enrollment period, more than 204,000 Washington Healthplanfinder customers enrolled in a 2017 Qualified Health Plan. This is a 23% increase from last year’s enrollment numbers! Washington Healthplanfinder is our state’s online health insurance marketplace where individuals, families, and small businesses in Washington can compare and enroll in health insurance coverage. The insured...
Category: News
Washington Legislature Not Yet Done: Special Session Begins
Although the Legislature has passed a number of bills during its regular session that ended Sunday, including some related to health care access, it has not yet settled on a budget for the upcoming two-year period beginning on July 1st. Some bills that appeared dead may be revived in the new Special Session that began Monday, especially if...
AHCA Gets Worse – Will Congress Vote This Week?
Upon returning from April Recess, Congress has been pushing GOP lawmakers to quickly vote on a new proposed version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). While earlier in the week House Republican leaders said that this plan was not ready to be voted on, it now appears we could see a vote as early...
Good News: Healthy Pregnancy and Contraceptive Access Bills Pass Washington Legislature
The Healthy Pregnancy Bill, SB 5835, passed the Legislature after a unanimous House vote last week. It is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. This bill requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women in the workplace. The bill also establishes the Healthy Pregnancy Advisory Committee House to develop strategies for improving health outcomes for...
Cost Sharing Reductions Remain in Jeopardy
Cost sharing reductions (CSRs) are subsidies offered by health plans under the ACA to consumers who have a household income below 250% of the poverty line, including 70,000 Washington residents. CSRs help to limit deductibles, co-insurance and co-payments for low-income enrollees. Insurance companies pay these costs and are currently reimbursed by the federal government. But...
Concerning “Marketplace Stabilization” Rules Adopted by Federal Department of Health and Human Service
As we’ve said before, there is a great deal the Trump Administration can do to change health programs without Congress repealing or changing the Affordable Care Act. Last week, HHS adopted a final rule aimed at stabilizing the health insurance marketplaces that were set up by the ACA. Some of the most alarming impacts of...
Staff Spotlight: Huma Zarif
Huma Zarif is a Staff Attorney at Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA). She graduated from University of California, Hastings College of the Law with a concentration in Health Law. Prior to law school, Huma worked as a social worker for over eight years, including at Harborview and Swedish Medical Centers. She obtained both her Bachelor in...