Washington challenges Trump administration rule that will make it more difficult and expensive to obtain health insurance through the ACA

Attorney General Nick Brown today joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to challenge a federal rule that illegally undermines the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and will make health insurance more expensive and harder to obtain for millions of Americans.

The lawsuit seeks to block provisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters, a federal rule that sets standards for health plans offered in 2027. 

Among other harmful changes, the rule expands eligibility for catastrophic health insurance plans that are ineligible for health insurance premium tax credits, offer only limited coverage, and can leave consumers facing significantly higher out-of-pocket costs than standard ACA plans.

The rule also allows catastrophic and bronze plans to exceed ACA limits on maximum annual out-of-pocket costs, increasing the amount of money that consumers would need to pay for care.

It also attempts to reinstate several provisions that a federal court recently found to be unlawful. 

The coalition argues these and other provisions unlawfully undermine the ACA’s goal of expanding access to affordable healthcare by increasing costs, reducing enrollment, and shifting financial burdens onto consumers, states, and healthcare providers.

“Washingtonians deserve high-quality, affordable health insurance,” said Brown.

“The Trump administration’s own analysis shows this rule will cause millions to lose their health insurance. Many more will be pushed into low-quality plans that come with massive out-of-pocket costs. We are going to court to protect healthcare for thousands of Washingtonians.”

Congress enacted the ACA to expand access to affordable health insurance. The following year, our state established the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, building a stable, competitive individual market for health and dental insurance and enabling people to access subsidies to make coverage more affordable, leading to a drop in the state’s uninsured rate from 14.2 percent in 2011 to 4.8 percent in 2023. 

Currently, nearly 250,000 Washingtonians get their health insurance through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. Under this final rule, their health insurance will become more expensive.

The coalition previously challenged the Trump administration’s similar 2025 ACA Marketplace rule. 

Earlier this week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts held a hearing on the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment in that case, with a final decision expected at a later date. In related litigation, last month a federal court vacated several provisions of the administration’s 2025 rule — including provisions at issue in this case — after finding that they violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

The administration’s new rule setting standards for 2027 health plans, which is the subject of this lawsuit, brings back many of the same provisions and adds new changes that further undermine the ACA.

HHS estimates the new rule will cause two million people to lose coverage in 2027 alone and a total of five million by 2030.

Joining Brown in today’s lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

Read the complaint.

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Don’t Go Without Coverage: Understanding Health Insurance in Washington

Photo by Online Marketing on Unsplash

By Jordan Strobeck, Director,

Community Engagement and Growth, 

Community Health Plan of Washington

Uncertainty surrounding the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) can make it feel overwhelming to make an informed decision about health insurance right now. 

The stakes are real: a recent poll from KFF suggests that 1 in 4 people who buy coverage through the ACA marketplaces would go without insurance next year if premiums (your regular or monthly payments) double—a possibility for some if Congress doesn’t act.

That’s not just a policy headline; it’s a human one. 

• It’s a person delaying a needed knee replacement because the deductible (what you pay up front) feels impossible. 
• It’s someone living with daily chronic pain when surgery would help, but “waiting it out” because the monthly cost (your premium) for insurance suddenly skyrocketed without federal help. 
• When coverage slips out of reach, people don’t stop needing care, they just stop seeking it. 

In moments like these, understanding what health insurance is and how it works becomes even more important. The basics can help you sort through the “noise,” know your options, and make choices that protect both your health and budget, regardless of what happens next at the federal level.

At its core, health insurance protects you from the financial burden of paying for medical care out of pocket. A single emergency room visit without insurance can easily cost $2,400. Insurance helps by sharing those costs with you. Instead of paying the full bill on your own, you pay a portion of it. Your insurance company then helps cover the remaining costs.

When you have health insurance coverage, many kinds of doctor visits are covered so you can receive regular checkups, screenings, and other preventive care that can catch health problems early, before they become serious or costly. 

And building a relationship with the same doctor means you’re able to get help managing your health in a consistent way. That kind of care is harder to receive without the benefit of insurance as many people who have to pay the full cost themselves delay seeing a doctor, or see whoever is on duty at an urgent care or emergency room.

In Washington state, there are several ways to access health insurance. 

• More than half of residents are covered through an employer, a spouse, or a domestic partner.
• Roughly 300,000 people, purchase plans directly from an insurance company or through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state’s online marketplace. 
• There are those who qualify for publicly funded health care coverage. 
• If you’re older or have certain health conditions, you may qualify for Medicare, which covers approximately 1.5 million Washington residents. 

If your income is lower, you may qualify for Apple Health (Medicaid), which serves nearly 2 million people statewide.

• Apple Health (Medicaid): Free or low-cost coverage if you meet income or eligibility rules, including low income, pregnancy/recent birth, under age 19, or living with a disability.
• Medicare: Coverage for people ages 65 and over, or under 65 years with a disability, or any age with end-stage renal disease; requires U.S. citizenship or 5 years or more of legal residency.
• Cascade Care (Healthplanfinder): Marketplace plans for those who don’t qualify for Apple Health, with free preventive care, more services covered before the deductible, and predictable costs. 
• Cascade Select remains available in 2026 for eligible incomes; federal savings depend on immigration status.

Most importantly, health insurance helps you stay healthy, connected to care, and avoid financial surprises. If you aren’t set up with coverage yet, act soon. 

While you can sign up for Medicaid year-round if you qualify, and Medicare if you have an available election period, Cascade Select enrollment through the marketplace is happening now through December 15, for coverage starting January 1. 

For marketplace plans, enroll by January 15 for coverage starting February 1.

Behind every enrollment deadline is a real person, someone who deserves care without risking their financial stability.

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Thin Blue Line insurance ordered to stop operating in Washington state

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer on Wednesday ordered Thin Blue Line Benefits to stop operating as an unlicensed insurance company and selling insurance in Washington.

Thin Blue Line, based in Texas and operated by Anna Reed and Guineth Reed, marketed and sold unauthorized health insurance products to members of the National Fraternal Order of Police.

Kuderer’s office opened an investigation into Thin Blue Line in July of 2025 after receiving a complaint that the company failed to process health insurance claims. 

It was one of 41 complaints filed by retired state and local law enforcement officers with similar allegations.

More information here

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Making Sense of Medicare in 2026 - presentation at Senior Center November 18, 2025

Carrie Hagel

Medicare changes every year, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. 

Join Carrie Hagel, licensed Medicare broker, for a clear and helpful overview of what’s new with Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug plans for 2026. 

Bring your questions and leave feeling confident about your options.

Tuesday November 18, 2025 from 2-3pm. Free.

Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center 18560 1st Ave NE Bldg. G

REGISTRATION - Call or visit the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center 206-365-1536

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Laurel Cove hosts presentation on Medicare November 4, 2025

The 2026 Medicare Enrollment Period is here, and it’s the perfect time to get clear, reliable information about your options. 

Join us at Laurel Cove for a free and informative session:

Medicare 101: Understanding the A, B, C & Ds of Medicare
Presented by: Greg Taylor, Senior Health Broker specializing in Medicare
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Laurel Cove – 17201 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

Greg will walk us through the basics of Medicare coverage—what each part means, how they work together, and how to choose what’s best for your needs. Whether you’re enrolling for the first time or reviewing your plan for the 2026 year, this session will help simplify the process.

Enjoy complimentary refreshments and bring your questions!

RSVP: 206-900-6016
michael.francart@encorecommunities.com

We hope to see you there!

Warm regards,
The Laurel Cove Community

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Medicare Open Enrollment at the Shoreline Library - two sessions in Chinese

Medicare Open Enrollment at the Shoreline Library

Cost: Free

Friday, October 17, 2-3pm
Presented in Chinese and English.
In partnership with the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC).
Registration not required.

Fridays, October 3 – December 19, 2-5pm
No assistance November 28. Available in Chinese and English.
In partnership with the Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC).
Please email Jasmine at jasminec@cisc-seattle.org to request an appointment.
Walk-ins welcome if time permits.

Monday, October 27, 3:30-5pm
Presented by a Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program volunteer, Lee. SHIBA provides free, unbiased, and confidential assistance with Medicare health care choices.
Registration not required.

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline WA 98155

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Federal government shut down after lawmakers fail to reach agreement

 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, left, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both New York Democrats, speak to reporters Sept. 29, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
 (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)

Washington State Standard

WASHINGTON — Democratic and Republican lawmakers remained far apart Monday with just over 24 hours until a federal government shutdown begins, after a White House meeting with President Donald Trump and congressional leaders meant to spur negotiations.

Democrats are demanding promises to lower rising health care costs, and Republicans are pushing for a “clean” stopgap bill to keep the government running through mid-November.

“It is our job as legislative leaders to try and solve this problem, or at least fix the problem, and we focused in the room in particular on the (Affordable Care Act) and its extension,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, told reporters on Capitol Hill a short time later.

Vice President JD Vance, flanked by Thune, Johnson and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, separately told reporters outside the White House, “We’re headed to a shutdown.”

Government funding ran out at midnight Tuesday. If no compromise is reached, hundreds of thousands of government employees would be furloughed, while many would be required to keep working without pay. 

Health care premium increases

Democrats point the finger to changes made in the recent tax and spending cuts law — commonly referred to as the “one big beautiful bill” — as the reason for rising health care costs.

The law allows enhanced premium tax credits for those who use health insurance on the government marketplace to expire as previously scheduled, by Democrats in an earlier law, at the end of 2025. 

Republican lawmakers also cut roughly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding over the next decade to help account for the law’s extended and new tax cuts.

“We’re deadly serious about addressing the Republican-caused health care crisis, because it’s a deadly serious issue for the American people — the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health funding closing right now,” Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, also a New York Democrat, said.

Health insurance companies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have requested or finalized price increases of at least 20% in 29 states, according to an analysis released Thursday by U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat.

All marketplace insurer rate increase requests are publicly available at healthcare.gov.

Schumer also pointed to the Trump administration’s impoundment and GOP lawmakers’ rescissions of federal funds, including those for medical research, foreign aid and public media, as another hard line for Democrats.

“We made the point clear that how could we negotiate a bipartisan agreement and then have the president unilaterally through impoundment, or the Republican Party through rescissions, and the president unilaterally through pocket rescissions, undo it all without any input,” Schumer said.

GOP slams ‘hostage-taking’ in shutdown

Republican leaders accused Democrats of “hostage-taking,” and pointed to a five-year, $50 billion fund for rural hospitals that was tucked at the eleventh hour into the massive tax and spending cuts package to compensate for health care cuts.

Thune raised in his hand the GOP’s temporary funding bill that would keep the government open until Nov. 21 and said he didn’t understand why Democrats are “saying this is some huge partisan thing.”

“This is something we do fairly routinely,” Thune, of South Dakota, said of temporary stopgap funding bills.

“This is purely and simply hostage-taking on behalf of the Democrats,” he added.

Johnson said the House had “done its job” roughly two weeks ago when all Republicans and one Democrat passed the seven-week stopgap funding bill.

“That is the record, and don’t forget it,” the Louisiana Republican said.

Republicans failed to gain enough Democratic votes in the Senate, which they control with 53 seats, to clear the final hurdle of 60 votes to advance legislation. Two Republican senators, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Kentucky’s Rand Paul, also voted against the measure.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be used to review Medicare outpatient procedures

From Washington State Standard

The new Medicare prior authorization model, known as Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction, or WISeR, will work with third-party companies deploying artificial intelligence to decide if traditional Medicare enrollees qualify for certain outpatient procedures.

Health care professionals will review denials that the AI technology makes. Procedures covered are those the federal government sees as too costly for the resulting medical benefit, such as impotence treatment, deep brain stimulation and knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis.

Dr. Matt Hollon, with the Washington State Medical Association, is among those unconvinced that the program is a move in the right direction. "Patients expect their care to be guided by doctors, not insurance companies or automated systems." 

The third-party companies involved will be compensated with a share of the savings they generate, stoking fears the decision-makers will be incentivized to deny approval.

More information here

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UW Medicine and Aetna reach new agreement

UW Medicine is pleased to announce that it has reached a new agreement with Aetna. 

This agreement allows UW Medicine to continue to be an in-network provider for Aetna-insured patients and will cover services provided since previous contracts ended on June 1, 2025.

“We are delighted to have reached a new agreement with Aetna that is fair, sustainable and in the best interests of our patients,” said Dr. Tim Dellit, CEO, UW Medicine. 

“We know how important it is for patients to have in-network access to the doctors and care teams they know and trust, and we need fair reimbursement rates from our commercial payors to keep our hospitals operating and to serve as the primary safety net healthcare system for our state. 

"We appreciate this opportunity to continue working with Aetna to provide high quality healthcare to our patients and community.”

UW Medicine’s contracts with Aetna include these locations: 

• Harborview Medical Center; 
• UW Medical Center – Northwest; 
• UW Medical Center – Montlake;
• UW Medicine Primary Care and Urgent Care; and 
• physician services at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. 

Patients with questions may contact UW Medicine at HealthInsContracts@uw.edu

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UW Med statement on contract talks with Aetna

UW Medical Center

UW Medicine has so far been unable to reach a fair agreement with Aetna that is financially feasible and in the best interests of its patients and employees. 

As the state’s largest public hospital system and Washington’s safety net healthcare provider dedicated to improving the health of all people, UW Medicine provides care that patients cannot access elsewhere, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

We are doing everything possible to finalize contracts with Aetna, that will provide Aetna-insured patients with access to affordable, quality healthcare at UW Medicine.

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair agreement with Aetna that is financially feasible and in the best interests of our patients and our dedicated employees. 

We are not alone; other health systems have also had difficulty reaching fair terms with Aetna and have ended their contracts with the multistate insurance company.

If we continue to be unable to reach an agreement with Aetna, our current contracts with Aetna will end on June 1, 2025.

See the full statement here

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What Medicaid cuts passed by U.S. House could mean for WA

About 200,000 residents could lose coverage, and the state could miss out on billions in federal dollars, officials say. Republican state lawmakers are among those opposing the cuts.

Jen Chong Jewell, the mother of a child with developmental disabilities, speaks at a press conference on proposed cuts to Medicaid alongside Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Photo by Jake Goldstein-Street/Washington State Standard)

BY: JAKE GOLDSTEIN-STREET
Washington State Standard

Washington leaders are warning that at least 194,000 people in the state stand to lose Medicaid coverage under a Republican-backed budget bill that passed the U.S. House early Thursday.

Only nine other states could potentially have more residents lose their health insurance from Medicaid than Washington, according to estimates released by Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee.

Washington would also lose about $2 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years, Gov. Bob Ferguson said at a press conference Thursday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He said “no rainy-day reserve fund is going to backfill that.”

But he stopped short of saying the proposed cuts would necessitate a special legislative session since many of the bill’s provisions wouldn’t go into effect immediately.

The cuts also threaten the livelihood of the state’s nursing homes and rural hospitals, officials said.

“Hospitals will close in Washington state, in rural parts of our state and urban parts of our state,” Ferguson said. “Take that to the bank. That’s going to happen. Nursing homes in our state will close.”

In light of this, about two dozen Washington state Republican lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, pleaded with the 12-member congressional delegation to avoid cuts that would imperil the state’s Medicaid program, known as Apple Health.

“We urge you to protect Medicaid,” they wrote in a letter sent Wednesday. “We can’t afford to lose local health care resources, and our rural communities will not be able to ride out the economic shockwaves that are sure to follow if this program is significantly cut.”

The letter marked a departure from Republican lawmakers’ tack on federal policy maneuvering, as they’ve largely remained mum on the potential Medicaid cuts and numerous other hot-button topics since President Donald Trump took office in January.

Washington U.S. Rep. Michael Baumgartner, of Spokane, who served previously in the Washington state Senate, took swipes at leaders in Olympia as he touted passage of the House bill on Thursday.

“Elections have consequences and the contrast between leadership in Washington DC and Washington state is stark,” he wrote in a social media post. He went on to slam Ferguson for signing state laws this week that will raise billions in new taxes and also criticized the governor’s stance on immigration.

“The American people are getting what they voted for,” he added.

Massive bill

The legislation that Republicans in Congress are forging ahead with is sprawling in scope. It would extend tax cuts approved in 2017 during Trump’s first term, pump more money toward border security, rework energy permitting and restructure college aid, among other changes.

To cut spending in line with their desired tax breaks, House Republicans propose reductions between $600 billion to $700 billion over 10 years to Medicaid, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. 

The program, which is run jointly by the federal government and states, provides healthcare for people who are poor or disabled. Roughly a quarter of Washington residents are covered by Medicaid.

The bill squeaked through the House by a single vote, with only Republicans in support. Baumgartner and the other Republican in Washington’s delegation, Dan Newhouse, of Sunnyside, both voted for it.

Newhouse and Baumgartner’s red districts have the highest proportion of Medicaid enrollees in Washington.

In a statement, Newhouse defended his vote, saying Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” would implement “real, common-sense reforms to strengthen the integrity of Medicaid, protecting the program for low-income families, seniors, and those with disabilities.”

One of the key changes the bill proposes is a requirement that certain Medicaid recipients prove they are working to qualify for coverage.

Specifically, the proposal would require childless adults without disabilities to work, volunteer or attend school for 80 hours per month, with some exceptions. Work requirements would go into effect by the end of 2026, up from the initial 2029 meant to give states time to prepare.

Of Washington adults on Medicaid, 70% are working, according to the nonpartisan health research organization KFF.

Democrats have universally decried the legislation, framing it as an attempt by Republicans to pay for tax cuts that will deliver outsized benefits to wealthier taxpayers, while undermining safety net programs for lower-income Americans.

“This legislation is a betrayal of Republicans’ promise to lower costs for everyday families,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Medina. “It will rip health coverage away from millions of families while increasing groceries, utilities, and health care bills.”

The bill would also punish states like Washington that offer Medicaid-style coverage to immigrants without legal status. Enrollment in Washington’s program for immigrants is capped, and it is funded using only state money.

For states that offer programs like this, House Republicans want to decrease how much the federal government would pay to cover enrollees who qualify for Medicaid under expanded eligibility stemming from the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Hundreds of thousands of Washington adults got Apple Health coverage under that expansion.

Over the next decade, this could shift to the state $10 billion in costs the federal government previously covered, according to KFF.

The legislation still needs to pass the U.S. Senate before reaching the president’s desk.

By way of background

Washington receives over $13 billion in federal funding for Medicaid, according to fiscal year 2023 data from the state Office of Financial Management. The state chips in another $8 billion, one of the largest categories of spending in its operating budget.

As of last month, nearly 2 million Washington residents were enrolled in Apple Health, including over 850,000 children, according to the state Health Care Authority, which oversees the program.

Jen Chong Jewell’s son, Gabriel, is one of them. The Everett 14-year-old has developmental disabilities and has used Medicaid to cover surgeries, therapies and medical equipment.

“I love my son, and I hate that he, along with so many others, are being swept into this narrative about the need to, quote ‘eliminate waste, fraud and abuse,’” Chong Jewell told reporters.

Also looming is the expiration of expanded tax credits for the Affordable Care Act that allowed more people to purchase insurance. That change and others to the federal health care law could cost another 79,000 residents in Washington their coverage, according to the congressional analysis.

Nationwide, this would bring the total to 13.7 million people with lost coverage by 2034.

The bill also would stop coverage for gender-affirming care for transgender people and reproductive care through Planned Parenthood. Washington state Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, was among more than 500 legislators across the country who called on congressional leadership this week to preserve Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood services.

Meanwhile, cuts to federal food stamp benefits — known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — would shift $300 million in annual costs to Washington, according to Ferguson’s office.

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Aetna and UW Medicine at odds over contract

Aetna insurance and UW Medicine have been in contract talks that do not seem to be going well.

Aetna says, "Our network agreement with UW Medicine ends on May 31, 2025. While our discussions continue, without a new agreement, UW Medicine hospitals and providers will be out of network for Aetna Commercial and Medicare Advantage health plans after that date."

Even though information from both UW and Aetna says that patients can continue to see their doctors during the negotiations, UW Medicine is cancelling patient appointments in May and declining offers from patients to pay for visits.

• Aetna information page
• UW information page

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This Valentine’s Day, join a heart-warming luncheon hosted by Humana

This Valentine’s Day, join a heart-warming luncheon at the Senior Activity Center hosted by Humana.

Humana's mission is to improve the health outcomes of every person they serve. 

They are committed to putting health first and making it easier for people to achieve their best health. Their focus is on whole-person health and well-being.

Feel free to meet with Krystene from Humana to see “Is your plate heart-healthy”?

We will also be raffling off some pickleball kits!

Registration is not required.

• Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
• Time: Check-in between 11:35 and 12:15. Lunch ends at 1:00pm
• Cost: $5 suggested donation for seniors age 60 and older. People under the age of 60 can enjoy a meal for $10.
• Location: Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center - 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

Inclement Weather: If the Shoreline School District is closed for weather or road conditions, the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center is also closed. You can double-check if we're closed on our homepage Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center

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Why home and auto insurance rates are up in Washington

By Bill Lucia

Washington State Standard

Insurers say rising costs for vehicle repairs and home rebuilding are behind escalating premiums. For state lawmakers grappling with the issue, there are few easy fixes.

Washington residents have seen home and auto insurance rates climb steeply over the past couple of years.

On Monday, December 9, 2024 insurance industry representatives offered state lawmakers their breakdown of what’s behind those trends. They also explained how heightened risks from wildfires and other climate-related disasters are causing insurers to rethink underwriting in some regions.

In short, the industry blames higher costs for auto repairs and home rebuilding as a main culprit driving up premiums. Inflation is a factor. But on the auto side, vehicles are also pricier to fix as safety equipment and other technology become more sophisticated.

“Insurers are facing large-scale losses on a national level, and they’re reassessing how much risk they can tolerate in order to remain stable, financially healthy, profitable, and that’s affecting availability,” said Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council.

“The affordability issue is really strictly limited to issues around the dramatically rising cost of paying to repair and replace homes and cars,” Brine added during a House Consumer Protection & Business Committee work session.

Insurers, lawmakers and regulators in the meeting did not flag any alternatives that would quickly pull prices back down.

When it comes to the availability of homeowner’s insurance, consumers are worse off in other states. A metric that underscores this is how many people have turned to insurer-of-last-resort programs, an option when someone has difficulty obtaining a policy in the standard market.

In Florida, there are now more than 1.3 million of these last resort policies in effect, and in California upward of 410,000, according to figures from the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The office’s data show only 289 of the policies in Washington.

But consumers in Washington are feeling the pressure from rising insurance prices. Other figures that staff from the commissioner’s office shared Monday highlighted how sharply rates have climbed.

Homeowner rates among the top 20 companies in Washington were up 21.7% year-over-year as of Dec. 1. And auto rates were up 17.5%. These hikes followed steep increases in 2023.

Meanwhile, the office says auto claim costs climbed from the $3 billion to $3.5 billion range between 2018 to 2020 to around $5.4 billion last year. Similarly, homeowner claim costs rose from around $941 million in 2018 to nearly $2 billion in 2023.

“All of a sudden, it kind of exploded,” David Forte, senior property and casualty policy advisor in the insurance commissioner’s office, told lawmakers as he walked through the rising cost figures for homeowner insurance claims.

Brine said “partnerships and incentives” could help attract insurers into new markets. Adopting regulations that make homes more resistant to burning down in wildfires and taking steps to improve road safety might also help to eventually bring down rates, he added.

Katie Kolan, speaking for Washington insurers, including PEMCO, highlighted other states, such as California, Florida, and Louisiana, where affordable policies have been increasingly hard to come by. “By comparison, Washington state is actually in a pretty good position,” she said.

She urged lawmakers to avoid legislation that increases expenses for the industry by mandating certain coverage, adding underwriting restrictions, or imposing new administrative requirements.

In June, a new rule took effect in Washington that gives policyholders the ability to ask their insurers to explain rate increases. A second phase of the rule, set to take effect in 2027, would require companies to send these explanations automatically when rate increases are above a certain level.

The industry has asked for a delay in the timeline for pressing ahead with the second phase of the rule, citing implementation costs.

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Pramila Jayapal: recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are now eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage

From Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal

Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. You never know when you or a loved one could receive a costly diagnosis or be in a life-changing accident, and making sure you have coverage can protect you and your family from being buried under medical debt.

That’s why I am so thrilled to let you know that, for the first time ever, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are now eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage!

The ACA, also known as Obamacare, has comprehensive and affordable coverage options. These plans are required to cover essential medical benefits such as preventative care, mental health care, and hospital care. And now, thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, DACA recipients will no longer be excluded from these benefits!

Enrollment is open until January 15, but don’t wait — CLICK HERE to learn more about the health care plans available to you!

And remember, enrolling in ACA coverage will have no impact on your current or future immigration status. This is all about expanding health care coverage to more people across America, so visit healthcare.gov to sign up today!

If the options are confusing, don’t worry: help is available. Trained health enrollment assisters and a call center can help you enroll and choose a plan that fits your needs.

If you or a loved one is a DACA recipient, don’t miss this amazing opportunity. Learn more about the plans available and enroll soon!

Washington, DC Office 2346 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-3106 Fax: 202-225-6197

Seattle Office 2033 6th Ave., Suite 1011 Seattle, WA 98121

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Medicare Talk at the Senior Center from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services November 25, 2024

A representative from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will lead an unbiased discussion of Medicare options ahead of the December 7, 2024 open enrollment deadline.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that administers the Medicare program, Medicaid, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Supplemental Insurance (Medigap), Extra Help/Low Income Subsidy (LID), etc.

• Date: Monday 11/25/2024
• Time: 10:30-11:30am
• Cost: Free
• Location: Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center - 18560 1st Ave NE. Bldg. G, Shoreline, WA 98155 
• Free parking
• Registration: No Registration Required

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Medicare Open Enrollment Workshop at the Shoreline Library November 16, 2024 from SHIBA

Medicare Open Enrollment Workshop

Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 1-3pm

Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline WA 98155

Cost: FREE

In this in-person session discuss:

• What you can do during Open Enrollment
• Choosing and changing plans
• What Medigap plans are available
• How to get help paying for Medicare

Presented by Don, a Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program volunteer. 

SHIBA provides free, unbiased and confidential assistance with Medicare health care choices. Solid Ground is your local SHIBA sponsor.

Please register here

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Today at Shoreline Library: Open enrollment for Health Insurance, ORCA pass, City Light discounts, EBT applications

Seattle King County Public Health department will be available for open enrollment:

Wednesday, November 6, 2024
4:00pm – 7:30pm
Shoreline Library, Small Meeting Room
345 NE 175th St., Shoreline 98155

Get help with:

• Health Insurance Enrollment
• ORCA Lift & Subsidized Annual Pass
• Seattle City Light Utility Discount Applications
• Food Assistance - EBT Applications

For more information:

• 800-756-5437
• chap@kingcounty.gov

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Learn about your 2025 Medicare options on November 8, 2024 at the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center

The annual Medicare enrollment period ends December 7, 2024.

MedAdvise Licensed Broker, Carrie Hagel. will discuss the 2025 changes to Medicare options in a session on November 8, 2024 11am at the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center 18560 1st Ave NE, Bldg. G Shoreline, WA 98155

Free, but registration required due to limited space. Call the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center to reserve your seat 206-365-1536.

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Medicare Matters Health Fair at the Shoreline Senior Center November 9, 2024

As Premera withdraws from offering Medicare Advantage plans in Washington state, 35,000 Washingtonians set to lose their Premera Medicare Advantage insurance may be left wondering what comes next.

Optum (formerly Everett Clinics and formerly Polyclinics) will provide resources and guidance with the help of their licensed Medicare agent, Cynthia Nava. 

Their upcoming health fair is designed to provide guidance, support, and resources to help affected individuals understand their healthcare options and make informed decisions for the future.

DocTalk by Solmaz Mohaddes, ARNP will help beneficiaries understand how to Live Healthier with Depression, a relevant topic for this upcoming time of year.

Resource booths will allow participants to meet with vendors, insurance carriers and even get their blood pressure checked by our certified clinical staff and win raffle prizes!

Here are the details:

• What: Medicare Matters Health Fair
• When: Saturday, November 9, 2024
• Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
• Where: Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center, 18560 1st Ave N, Shoreline WA 98155. Southernmost building on the Shoreline Center campus.

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