“It’s
a new day for health insurance in Washington,” said Richard Onizuka, Chief
Executive Officer for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “With Washington Healthplanfinder, people
in our state now have an easier way to find the health plan that fits their
needs and budget. Every health plan is new and covers essential benefits
including doctor visits, emergency care, prescriptions, and free check-ups and
screenings.”
Washington
Healthplanfinder was designed to
offer a consumer-friendly shopping experience with a variety of features that
will make the process of finding insurance easier, such as side-by-side
comparisons of health plans and the ability to filter plans based on important
preferences such as cost and in-network doctors. The site also interfaces with
federal and state data systems to provide quick eligibility determinations for
free or low-cost coverage. The marketplace has undergone robust testing over the
past few months to ensure the system will perform when consumers start
enrolling.
“While
the website has a complex infrastructure behind the scenes, what people will see
when they go toWashington Healthplanfinder is a simple, intuitive design that guides
them through the process of enrolling in health coverage,” said Benush
Venugopal, Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, which developed the website with
the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “We also have several enhancements to
the user experience planned for future releases of Washington Healthplanfinder.”
The
Exchange also announced details of statewide outreach efforts to complement the
advertising, grassroots activities, social media engagement, and ongoing work
with partners and media outlets. A mobile enrollment tour will launch in
mid-October featuring a bus equipped with internet-ready laptops and trained
In-Person Assisters enrolling people on-site. The branded bus will work with ten
in-person assistance organizations to make multiple stops throughout the state
in October and November.
“As
part of the effort to reach the 1 million uninsured residents in Washington,
our Washington
Healthplanfindermobile enrollment tour will be coming to towns all across
the state to increase awareness and spur enrollment,” said Michael Marchand,
Director of Communications for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “It’s
important that we reach people where they live, play, work and pray to ensure
we’re getting the word out.”
To
reach young adults, Washington
Healthplanfinder is also working
with a nonprofit organization called the Young Invincibles to develop an
informational iPhone and Android smartphone app tailored to Washington State.
The app, which is expected to launch in October, will be co-branded with Washington Healthplanfinder frequently asked questions, links to enroll
in coverage, and an “Ask a Question” feature that will go directly to local
staff members.
In
addition to the website, Washingtonians can get answers to questions and help
enrolling in health plans through a statewide network of more than a thousand
trained insurance brokers and in-person assisters. There are nearly 100
community organizations that will conduct education and enrollment activities
across the state. A Tribal Assister Program provides tribal members and their
communities with information and help enrolling in new coverage options.
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