OLYMPIA — Eleven health insurers have been approved to sell 74 plans next year in the individual health insurance market.
Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said Monday that a 13.6 percent average increase was approved, even though health insurers had sought a 19.4 percent average increase. Kreidler said that all 39 counties will have at least one insurer selling through Washington’s exchange. The rate increases range from a .30 percent increase at BridgeSpan Health Co. to an 18.6 percent increase at Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of WA.
The insurance commissioner’s office says that about 266,000 Washingtonians do not get employer or government-sponsored health insurance and must buy their own coverage through the exchange or directly from an insurer. Officials say that last year, 207,000 people enrolled through the exchange, and approximately 60 percent of them received a subsidy.
Open enrollment for the 2019 individual market starts Nov. 1.
