OLYMPIA, Wash. – In Washington, there are more people on Medicaid than there are kids in public school – 1.2 million. And that number will grow significantly in 2014 when the new federal health care overhaul kicks-in.
The expansion has triggered a high-stakes competition for state contracts to provide Medicaid coverage.
Health insurance rates are going up and policies are changing for many people who have an individual plan or work at a small business. Those increases can be maddening and mystifying.
Majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature are working to close a multi-billion dollar budget gap. But they're not likely to implement a change the State Auditor says could save $180 million over the two-year budget cycle, as the idea runs afoul of the powerful teacher's union.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has rejected a new rate increase requested by one of the state’s largest health insurers. It’s the second time in recent months Kreidler has sparred with Regence BlueShield.
Regence is seeking a 3.7% increase for its Washington customers, including the Asuris subsidiary, starting January first, to cover the cost of new benefits required by the federal health law. This applies to its individual insurance plans, not to plans provided through employers.
We’ve been hearing a lot about the politics of health care lately. In the meantime, many employers are in open enrollment season, making for a confusing month when it comes to health insurance. And for seniors on Medicare, November brings the annual dilemma about prescription drugs.
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