A key milestone for implementing Cascade Care has been reached. The Health Care Authority (HCA) announced that five carriers have been selected to offer public option health plans next year: Bridgespan, Community Health Network of Washington, Coordinated Care, LifeWise and United Healthcare. Public option health plans will be qualified health plans offered on Healthplanfinder, that will have a standard benefit design and meet additional quality and value requirements.
With these five carriers, the next steps are for the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to review and approve all health plan filings, the HCA to negotiate and review final contracts, and the Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) to certify the health plans.
Consumers will be able to enroll in public option health plans starting on Nov. 1, 2020, with coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2021. For more information, please visit the HBE website.
