New State Insurance Programs Offer Help to Rural Residents

Two new programs offered through the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) could increase access to health insurance coverage for rural residents – the Washington Health Program and the Health Insurance Partnership (HIP).

Washington Health is a nonsubsidized version of the state Basic Health Plan (BHP) administered by Community Health Plan of Washington. This program offers either $75,000 or $100,000 in health insurance coverage every year. Washington Health is available to anyone who lives in Washington and:

• Is not eligible for free or purchased Medicare.
• At the time of enrollment, is not confined to an institution.
• Is ineligible for coverage under the Washington State Health Insurance Pool or qualifies to bypass the standard health questionnaire under state law.
• Is not receiving Washington Department of Social and Health Services medical assistance (Medicaid) or subsidized BHP.

The HIP is a premium subsidy program for low-wage employers of small businesses. Small employers can enroll in HIP if they do not currently offer health insurance coverage to their employees, and if at least 50% of their employees are low-wage, which for the purposes of this program is defined as income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. For an employer to qualify, at least 75% of its eligible employees must purchase health insurance coverage and it must contribute at least 40% toward its employees’ premiums. Eligible employees will receive a sliding-scale subsidy for their portion of the monthly premium (up to 90%) based on income.

More information on both programs can be found on the HCA website at http://www.hca.wa.gov/.