Most people abhor what has happened to health insurance over the last few years. Other than the folks caught up in the Medicaid expansion, everyone else is paying premiums higher than their monthly mortgage payment. An affordable plan has a deductible of at least $6,500 with perhaps two or three visits to a primary care provider at $30 or $40 with the deductible waived. Those that need medicines covered immediately, or have a chronic condition that requires more treatments can buy a plan with a $1,000 deductible, but the premiums are beyond the ability of most people to pay. It’s a terrible situation.
And now, one of the more affordable insurance companies threw a flag on the field. Ambetter stopped accepting applications for health insurance as of Dec. 13, two days before the open enrollment period ended on Dec. 15. Hundreds of families in Snohomish County alone must quickly log back in at www.wahealthplanfinder.org and select a different insurance plan.
This is unacceptable, frustrating and dishonorable, yet it happened. Most insurance brokers were notified only yesterday that the company is denying new applications. Other brokers that enrolled people to Ambetter without compensation (because they didn’t have a contract with the company) are only learning about this terrible news by networking with other professional brokers. And Washington Health Plan Finder didn’t know about this sudden withdrawal until I called them!
Richard Ek
Everett
Editor’s note: While enrollment under the Affordable Care Act ended nationwide on Dec. 15, enrollment at www.wahealthplanfinder is available until Jan. 15.
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