Tag Archives: affordable care act

More Kitsap residents enrolling in qualified health plans

Enrollment in the state health insurance marketplace has so far been dominated by Medicaid enrollees.

But in December, Kitsap saw a jump in the number of residents enrolled in qualified private health care plans offered through Washington Healthplanfinder. Enrollment in those plans jumped from 735 at the end of November to 2,454 at the end of December, according to a report released Thursday by the exchange.

A surge in enrollment for qualified health plans was noted statewide in December. Exchange representatives attributed the jump to people rushing to meet the Dec. 23 deadline for coverage activated on Jan. 1.

Another 9,149 Kitsap residents have qualified for Medicaid plans, including 3,801 newly enrolled. That brings the total number of Kitsap residents enrolled through the exchange to 11,603.

The exchange opened in October. Open enrollment continues through March 31 (applications are accepted at any time for Medicaid).

The full data report for December is posted below: Continue reading →

Kitsap enrollment in health exchange plans nears 6,000

Tad Sooter

The number of Kitsap residents signed up for health coverage through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange nearly tripled in November, according to a report released Thursday.

Total enrollment for the county was 5,837 by the end of November, a big jump from the 1,986 signed up at the end of October. Statewide enrollment grew to 179,000.

The overwhelming majority signed up for Medicaid coverage, as has been the trend since the exchange opened Oct. 1.

Customers have until Dec. 23 to pay for plans if they want their insurance to activate Jan. 1.

It appears errors on the Healthplanfinder website that listed Harrison Medical Center as “out of network” for some plans have been fixed.

Here’s the full November report: Continue reading →

Mobile Healthplanfinder rolls into Bremerton Thursday

Tad Sooter

Washington Healthplanfinder went mobile this fall and its next stop is Bremerton.

A custom Healthplanfinder truck and trailer will roll onto the Olympic College campus Thursday. Assisters from Kitsap Public Health District will be on hand to answer questions about the health insurance plans offered through the Washington exchange. Attendees can peruse plans and sign up for coverage using laptops provided in the trailer.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1395 Broadway, between the student center and engineering rotunda.

A report released by Healthplanfinder last week showed nearly 2,000 Kitsap residents enrolled in plans through the exchange in October. Washington’s exchange has enjoyed good press lately, due to strong enrollment numbers and dysfunction in other insurance marketplaces.

Photo: @WAPlanfinder

Nearly 2,000 in Kitsap enrolled through state health care exchange

Tad Sooter

Nearly 2,000 Kitsap County residents enrolled in health care insurance through the state’s Healthplanfinder in October, according to a report released Friday.

The vast majority – 1,754 – qualified for Medicaid plans. Another 181 enrollees qualified for tax credits, while 51 did not. Kitsap ranked ninth among Washington counties for enrollment, accounting for 3.4 percent of the 57,000 Washingtonians who enrolled in October.

The enrollment numbers will change rapidly. About 150,000 people statewide have either enrolled in coverage, completed application that is awaiting payment or started an application.

You can read the full report for October here (PDF).

Here’s the AP story on the report.