Last year, there were problems with shopping, comparing and getting help buying individual health insurance plans sold through the state’s website.

This year, the state promises improvements. The Washington Healthplanfinder website will be easier to navigate. There will be more help available online and through a toll-free hotline, as well as more plans to choose from.

People can begin shopping and signing up for individual health insurance Saturday.

The website is not only for those who are signing up for the first time. People who signed up for individual health insurance last year must renew coverage this year.

“There’s a lot of things to make it more consumer-friendly,” said Bethany Frey, a spokeswoman for the state’s health insurance marketplace.

Last year, 1.3 million Washington residents signed up for individual health insurance. Consumers complained of problems that slowed or prevented them from signing up online and long waits to get help after connecting with call centers.

Roxanne Hoyt, an insurance agent in Everett who helps people with sign-ups, said it’s hard to tell if things will go more smoothly this year.

“They resolved some of last year’s problems, but they’ve redone the site,” she said. “It’s been down part of every day this week. I know they’re scrambling to get it ready. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the scramble works.”

The federal Affordable Care Act requires people to have health insurance. If it isn’t available through an employer, consumers need to acquire it some other way or face penalties.

The penalties are increasing this year, to 2 percent of adjusted household income, or $325 per person and $162.50 per child under age 18, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty per family is $975.

Hoyt said she and her co-workers already have been getting calls from people seeking consultation on Saturday, when enrollment begins.

“We’ll probably be working all weekend to get a jump start on it,” she said. She’s one of 2,500 insurance brokers statewide who can help consumers with enrollment.

Some helpful facts about this year’s implementation of mandatory health insurance and the plans offered:

Generally, the more health care expenses a plan pays for, the more it will cost in monthly premiums.

There are twice as many plans to choose from this year — 230 in all. Rates increased an average of 1.5 percent, according to the state Insurance Commissioner’s office.

Plans are given color designations to indicate cost, from the least expensive bronze plans to the most expensive platinum plans. For the first time, a platinum plan is offered in Washington, available in Snohomish and 11 other counties, Frey said.

The price of the second-least-expensive, or silver, plans is decreasing in most counties, including Snohomish County, she said.

The number of people available to answer questions at call centers this year has more than tripled, to 500, Frey said.

Of the more than 1 million Washingtonians who signed up for health insurance last year, 85 percent qualified for free coverage or tax credits to lower monthly insurance premiums, Frey said.

The state’s health insurance website has information for businesses with 50 or fewer employees that wish to offer health insurance to employees. There’s no penalty for those businesses if they don’t provide health insurance, but those that do offer it qualify for a business tax credit, Frey said.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3496; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Health insurance sign-up help

Information on signing up for individual health insurance plans will be available at the food court at Alderwood mall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 22 and from noon to 4 p.m. on Nov. 23.

People also can get information beginning Saturday by calling a toll-free number, 855-923-4633, or by checking the website www.wahealthplanfinder.org.

Those who signed up for health insurance last year must sign up annually for it to continue.

Signing up for health plans can be complicated by the terms used by insurance companies, such as premiums, co-pays and deductibles. For help understanding insurance-related terms, go to tinyurl.com/mu3jkyr.

Additional information is available at tinyurl.com/knowyourplan

If you’re in the market for an individual health insurance plan and want it to start on Jan. 1, you must select a plan and make a payment by Dec. 23. Enrollment continues through Feb. 15 for those who want the coverage to begin later in the year.