Q1 Navigator Updates

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Another Goodbye

BHT is sad to announce the departure of our Navigator Manager, Israel Vidales, who has moved to South Dakota in pursuit of his next adventure. He has been an incredible asset to our Navigator Network over the past three years and will be missed. Vivian Chalardsoontornvatee from the Healthy Kids Together team will be taking his place as the Navigator Manager, and BHT will be hiring for another Navigator to join our team in the next few weeks. 

Lead Organization Meeting Highlights

Last month, the Navigator team attended the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Lead Organization Meeting where Navigators across the state came together to discuss changes to HealthPlanFinder and reflect on how Open Enrollment 2019 went. Here are some key updates:

  • This year, HealthPlanFinder will be including a Gender X option on insurance applications meaning the applicant will not have to indicate their gender as exclusively male or female.

  • BHT was able to meet all of the Key Performance Indicators for 2019 and remained one of the networks with the highest enrollment numbers.

  • Our team learned more about Cascade Care (Senate Bill 5526) which is rolling out this November for Open Enrollment 2020. The primary goals of Cascade Care are to increase the transparency and predictability of healthcare costs by having a standard cost-sharing design. Each of these plans offered by insurance carriers will have the same deductible, co-pays, and co-insurance but differ in premium prices. Overall, there are big changes happening to HealthPlanFinder but they are aimed at increasing access to affordable healthcare insurance and services.

 

COFA Program Updates

The HCA COFA Program offers free health insurance to qualifying COFA Islanders from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau who are residing in Washington state. Previously they were required to wait until Open Enrollment to enroll in the program but that no longer applies.

All COFA Islanders, including those 65 and older, can now enroll in the program year-round either online on the HealthPlanFinder website or through a Navigator.

 

Open Enrollment Extended

This year’s Open Enrollment will start November 1, 2020 and end January 15, 2020 for those seeking coverage for 2021. Applications for Washington Apple Health are available year-round for those who qualify. With the addition of the Cascade Care plans this year, the Health Benefit Exchange hopes that the extension will allow customers and Navigators more time to discuss plan options and work through any application issues. As an Enrollment Center, Better Health Together will be equipped to assist customers in-person or over the phone during Open Enrollment.