Time is nearly up to enroll in Obamacare in Washington state
Jan 27, 2017, 5:40 AM | Updated: 8:35 am
This Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, shows the HealthCare.gov 2017 website home page on display, in Washington. Health insurance experts say the decision to buy 2017 coverage on the Affordable Care Act鈥檚 public exchanges shouldn鈥檛 boil down to a gamble over the survival of the law, which requires most people to have insurance. Instead, customers should focus on whether they can handle the financial risk that comes with remaining uninsured while they wait for Trump鈥檚 health care plan to crystallize. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Faced with an uncertain federal future, the 鈥� referred to broadly as Obamacare — has entered the final days for new patients to register for health plans in 2017.
The deadline to register as a new customer is Tuesday, Jan. 31. Julian Torres, a Wedgewood-based Washington Health broker said he鈥檚 been inundated with applicants worried about the deadline and President Donald Trump鈥檚 vow to end the federal health care plan.
Related: Obama, Seattle and the Affordable Care Act
鈥淭he incoming administration has been basically saying that, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to get rid of this or get rid of that,’鈥� Torres said. 鈥淏ut the reality is that it鈥檚 going to be a while before those changes take place.鈥�
King County Health officials report that the four-year-old program has resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of uninsured adults and children locally,
鈥淎nd there actually has been an enrollment increase this year when compared to last year of the number of people who are calling to get enrolled,鈥� said Daphne Pie, the King County Health鈥檚 manager of access and outreach for the Affordable Care Act. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been an increase statewide, too.鈥�
Washington Health Benefit Exchange
As of last February, county records showed approximately 268,000 residents enrolled in plans covered under the Affordable Care Act. Statewide, the governor鈥檚 office has reported that more than 750,000 Washingtonians have health insurance under the law. Both numbers are expected to rise this year.
But health officials say they don鈥檛 know what the future will bring for the , the public insurance expansion former President Obama considered a crowning achievement but newly elected President Trump has .
To that end, King County is making its late signup pitch reflect the uncertainty with the existing program.
According to the county鈥檚 health newsletter: 鈥淭he Affordable Care Act may be repealed and replaced under the new federal administration, but there鈥檚 still time to take advantage of it. In fact, if you sign up by January 31, you should feel confident that .鈥�
Pie said the language was a direct outgrowth of the worried calls the county has been receiving. 鈥淭he most questions we get are, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 going to happen?鈥� 鈥� Pie said. 鈥淲hat we tell people is get your insurance now; you鈥檙e going to have insurance for 2017.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen beyond that.鈥�
The act allows any uninsured adult and child regardless of pre-existing conditions to register for subsidized health insurance. Adults who earn less than $1,370 monthly are eligible for a heavily subsidized no- and low-income program. People who miss the deadline but have a 鈥渓ife-changing event鈥� such as a job loss, might be eligible outside of the open enrollment period.
Adults above that income level pay on an income based, sliding scale of premiums 鈥� the portion of the act that has come as family and individual plan rates have soared.
For more information about signing up for Washington health care look .
