Washington state health insurance hotline goes live
Sep 3, 2013, 7:55 AM | Updated: 9:43 am
If you have a question about the new health care laws going into effect - Washington has a hotline for that. (AP Photo/File)
(AP Photo/File)
Washington residents can get help right now, sorting through dozens of new health insurance options.
A state health insurance call center is now active to answer questions about 41 different plans offered through the state’s new Health Benefit Exchange, created as part of the federal Affordable Care Act, known as ‘Obamacare.’
An estimated one million Washington residents have no health insurance.
“And that number even extends beyond that to those who are under-insured, maybe with plans that don’t offer as robust coverage as they could get,” said Michael Marchand, spokesman for the Exchange.
A toll-free customer support line, available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., will have a live person to talk to about plan choices, costs and what kind of subsidies are available. The support line (1-855-923-4633) services multiple languages.
All of the plans will offer what are considered essential health benefits.
“So everything has to cover things such as doctor visits, hospital stays or your prescription drugs and also none of the plans can deny you based on previously existing conditions,” said Marchand.
The plans have been reviewed by the Washington State Insurance Commissioner and the board of the Health Benefit Exchange will formally approve the health plan offerings this week.
Enrollment starts Oct. 1 and coverage starts Jan. 1.
