Quick Health Quotes

Quick Life Quotes

Quick Disability Quotes

Quick Dental Quotes

Health Insurance Information

Life Insurance Information

Disability Insurance Information

Dental Insurance Information

Washington Health Insurance

 

All health insurance policies in Washington are considered guaranteed renewable as long as your premiums are paid up to date.  So this means your health insurance can not be canceled because you become sick.

 

Washington mandates that health insurance companies cover newborns and adopted children for the first 60 days, on their parent’s policy.  But inversely pregnancy is, and can be considered a pre-existing condition, except on group health policies. 

 

The Washington State Health Insurance Pool (WSHIP) is Washington's high risk pool.  This is a pool of individuals who have been denied coverage by private insurance companies due to their health status.  There are strict requirements and also pre-existing condition exclusions.  Visit their website for additional information.

 

A great resource for additional Health Insurance Information is the Washington Department of Insurance.  To visit their website click here.

 

                            Request a Washington Health Insurance Quote

 

 

Washington Small Business Health Insurance

Cities in Washington   Seattle WA Tacoma WA Spokane WA Vancouver WA Bellevue WA Everett WA Federal Way WA Kent WA Yakima WA Bellingham WA         Commonly Searched Terms   Washington Health Insurance Health Insurance in WA WA Self Employed Health Insurance Affordable Health Insurance in WA Group Health Insurance in WA WA Individual Health Insurance WA Health Insurance Quote Health Insurance Companies in WA WA Health Insurance Agents WA Health Insurance Policies

 

In Washington, a group health plan, can not base your health insurance premiums on your health.  This is called non discrimination.  Small Business Health Insurance in Washington is also guaranteed issue, meaning that you can not be turn down for coverage.

 

Pre-existing exclusions are limited on the amount of time they can exclude coverage.  Also if you have current coverage, without lapses, that will be credited against your pre-existing period.  Pregnancy is not considered a pre-existing condition on a group health plan.

 

Insurance companies are able to decide what is pre-existing under a Washington small business health plan by using the look back period.  This is the period of time 6 months prior to you new policy starting.  Insurance companies will look for treatments, diagnosis in deciding what, if anything, they are going to consider pre-existing.

 

The maximum pre-existing waiting period is 12 months for an employee. If you are a late enrollee your maximum waiting period is 18 months.  Any pre-existing periods must be applied only after written notice.

 

Washington does limit the amount of variation between premiums of different group health plans.  Each Small Business Plan will have certain enrollment periods in which employees can sign on to get coverage.  Washington insurers can mandate that 75% of eligible employees take a small business health plan.

 

Interestingly, Washington small business health insurance can vary due to age, location and family size, but not health status.  Also the difference between the cheapest premiums and the most expensive premiums can not be more than 375%. 

 

For additional information about Small Business Health Insurance in Washington click here.

 

                            Request a Washington Small Business Health Insurance Quote

 

 

 

Washington Individual Health Insurance

 

All Washington Health Insurance Policies have to cover disabled children on their parent’s policy into their adulthood.

 

In Washington, insurance companies are able to decide if they want to insure you or not.  They can either rate you up or just refuse coverage.  All Washington Health Insurance companies us a point system when rating your health questionnaire on your application.  The worse your health, the large the amount of points you will receive.  If you receive more than 288 points you will be denied, less than 288 and you will be accepted.

 

Washington allows health insurance companies to include a 9 month pre-existing condition exclusion on every individual policy.  If you are HIPAA eligible you will have no imposed pre-existing conditions.

 

Relative to Pre-Existing Conditions, Insurance companies in Washington must give credit to prior credible coverage as long as there was not more than a 63 day lapse in coverage.

 

Individual Health Insurance Premiums in Washington can not be based on health status.  Rates can be based on age, location, family size, sex etc.  Sadly there is no limit on how much an insurance company can charge and individual for coverage.

 

For additional information about Individual Health Insurance in Washington click here.

 

 

                            Request a Washington Individual Health Insurance Quote

 

 

 

Washington Self Employed Health Insurance

 

In Washington self employed people are able to buy small business health insurance, or individual health insurance.  So as a self employed business owner in Washington you can choose what plan makes the most sense for you and your family.

 

Another option for affordable Washington Self Employed Health Insurance is often associations or self employed groups.  Just keep in mind that not all of these groups or associations are regulated by the state.

 

One benefit for Self Employed people is that they are able to deduct 100% of their health insurance premiums from their taxes!

 

For additional information about Self Employed Health Insurance in Washington click here.

 

 

                            Request a Washington Self Employed Health Insurance Quote

 

 

 

Temporary Washington Health Insurance

 

Many situations may arise where you find yourself without health insurance, or about to be without health insurance.  These reasons could range from graduating college to being in-between jobs.  Instead of going without health insurance you should look into getting a Washington Temporary Health Insurance Policy.  These policies will be cheap, with high deductibles and low coverage, but getting a Washington Temporary Health Insurance Policy is much better than going with out health insurance.  Every temporary health insurance policy in Washington is not guaranteed renewable.

 

For additional information about Temporary Health Insurance in Washington click here.

 

 

                            Request a Washington Temporary Health Insurance Quote

 

 

 

What types of Washington Health Insurance are there?

 

HMO- Health Maintenance Organization.  This type of insurance is called managed care.  This means you have certain network of doctors and hospitals in Washington that you have to go to for care.  Most Washington HMO’s have office visit co-payments that range from $10 to $35, and hospital deductibles that range from $250 to $1,500.  Often the most affordable health insurance plans are HMO’s due to the fact they are managed care.

 

PPO-Preferred Provider Organization.  This type of insurance is also called managed care but it gives the consumer much more freedom; they allow you to visit any doctor or hospital in or out of network.  Most Washington PPO’s have an in network and an out of network charge.  If the in network co-insurance is 100% then the out of network co-insurance would be 80%.  If the in network co-insurance is 90% then the out of network co-insurance would be 70%   Typically Washington PPO’s offer co-payments for doctor visits as well as hospitalization. 

 

Indemnity Plan - In Washington, as health insurance rates continue to rise, many people are finding it more affordable to drop their health insurance and buy a Washington Major Medical Health Insurance Plan.  An Indemnity plan can also be called a major medical plan or catastrophic health insurance.  Whatever you call it, typically a Washington Indemnity Plan would cover more “major” claims.  An Indemnity plan has an annual deductible and will usually allow you to pick different co-insurance options.  Indemnity plans allow you access to any doctor or hospital, and for this reason they are typically very expensive.

 

Discount Medical Plans – In recent years many Discount Medical Plans have started to surface.  These plans have relatively inexpensive, but consumers must realize that this is not insurance.  All these companies do is to get their customers discounted rates (20-50% off) on certain procedures at certain physicians and hospitals. 

 

Federal Mandated Health Insurance Laws

 

HIPAA

Along with Washington Health Insurance Laws, there are Federal Laws that regulate Health Insurance companies.   HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). This act mandated federal standards for individual and group health insurance plans.  Some of the standards that it established were relative to guaranteed renew ability, crediting for prior health coverage and pre-existing condition waiting periods.

 

ERISA

Large corporations do not have health insurance policies.  Typically they are self funded, meaning the corporation pays for all of their employee’s medical bills instead of buying health insurance.  Most of these “self funded” companies are regulated by the federal government under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act)

 

COBRA

In Washington it is mandated, by the state, that all companies that offer a Washington Group Health Insurance Policy must also enable their employees to extend their health coverage temporarily; called Cobra.  A Washington Cobra Insurance is typically available for a time period of 18 to 36 months.   In Washington you are given 45 days to decide if you are going to take Washington Cobra Insurance or not.  Once you have passed on the opportunity to take Cobra, you are not eligible to receive it.

 

Cobra Insurance was introduced in 1985.  Cobra stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.  If you would like more information about your Cobra Insurance options please contact your companies HR department.

 

Often employees are surprised at the cost of a Washington Cobra Insurance.  The reason for this is that they are now responsible for 103% (100% of the premium plus a 3% administration fee) of a monthly health insurance premium when they probably only paid 20% while employed. 

 

Whether nor not to take Cobra is an important question, and you should realize there are alternatives to a Washington Cobra Insurance Policy.  One should realize what they plan to do in the future.  If you are looking for another job, and it will be a few months before you get a job, it might make sense to look for a Washington Temporary Health Insurance Plan.  If you are contemplating working at a consultant, it would be in your best interest to look into a Washington Self Employed Health Insurance Policy.   

 

 

                           Request a Health Insurance Quote from one of QuicklyQuoteMe’s Agents

 

 

If you are a health insurance agent looking for Washington Health Insurance Leads click here

 

 

Washington Insurance   Washington Life Insurance   Washington Disability Insurance   Washington Dental Insurance