Steep premium increases on Washington’s and Idaho’s health insurance exchanges haven’t stopped people from signing up for coverage this year.
However, some returning customers are struggling to pay for plans when monthly premiums have jumped an average of 36 percent in Washington and 39 percent in Idaho. Washington HealthPlan Finder reported that as of last week, some 17,800 new customers had signed up for health insurance through the state’s exchange, up 43 percent over the same period last year. Washington’s open enrollment continues through January 15th, but customers must sign up by December 15th to start coverage on January 1st.
Idaho enrollment ends December 15th. In Idaho, about 88,000 people have signed up for plans through Your Health Idaho, while more than 90 percent of people who had a plan in 2017 have re-enrolled for 2018 coverage. Federal subsidies for insurance coverage rise relative to the cost of the second-cheapest silver plan sold on the exchange, so customers do get more help to cover costs.
Most people who make under 400 percent of the federal poverty level receive a subsidy. But the Affordable Care act also requires people to spend a certain percentage of their income on health insurance premiums before subsidies kick in, from about 2 to 9.7 percent depending on income. (Spokesman-Review)
