Open Enrollment

No matter where you receive health insurance coverage from, the annual period known as “open enrollment” is your chance to sign up for or select a different plan for the year ahead. In Washington State, the open enrollment period typically begins on November 1 and ends on January 15. However, the annual dates may vary depending on how you receive health insurance, whether it be through your employer, Medicare or Washington state’s health insurance exchange.

Outside of the standard open enrollment period, qualifying life events permit you the ability to make changes to your insurance coverage. These events may include having a baby, getting married, loss of job, or other reasons outside of your control. In general, a life-changing event occurs, you will keep your open enrollment health plan selection for a full year. If your finances change and you become eligible for Medicaid, you can sign up at any time of the year.

To purchase individual insurance or see if you qualify for subsidized health care, visit the Washington Health Plan Finder to learn more to review your options.

You have choices when it comes to choosing a health insurance plan options for you and your family. The annual open enrollment period is a timely reminder to review your current health care plan’s coverage and consider new possibilities.

During open enrollment, you can:

1. Sign up for new medical and/or dental insurance coverage.
2. Make changes to your existing medical and/or dental coverage.
3. Add or remove dependents from their coverage, like a spouse or child.

Specific costs and coverage will vary depending on the plan that you have or select. When it comes to the details of your plan’s coverage, it is important to read your benefits description very carefully. If you are ever in doubt about whether your insurance will cover a specific medicine, treatment or doctor visit, call your insurance company to ask.

MultiCare Connected Care is an accountable care organization with an established, comprehensive clinically integrated network of care. It is comprised of both MultiCare providers and independent, community-based providers. These health care professionals care for patients at clinics, hospitals and other health care facilities such as medical imaging, laboratory and pharmacy locations. Highlights of the network include:

• Highly coordinated care that utilizes shared resources and technology — including standardized treatment processes — across the network of locations including inpatient and outpatient care, specialty care, home care and community-based services.
• Achieving better health outcomes through initiatives that provide measurable care results, reduce unnecessary services and utilization, and carefully manage high risk patients.
• Improve access and availability to health care.
• Create seamless connections to medical records for all members of the patient’s health care team through a secure health information exchange.