Health Care Reform In Washington State

Healthcare Choice, Security and Stability From Health Insurance Reform

• Rising health care costs are somewhat relieved thanks to health insurance reform.
  
  
• Washington has a hidden tax on healthcare, created because of uncompensated care. This would be eliminated as more and more people get health insurance coverage.
  
  
• Premium tax credits would provide help for 457,000 Washingtonians to cover the cost of healthcare. Without these reforms, the present $47.8 billion in out-of-pocket expenses would rise to $13.7billion by 2019.
  
  
• The choice and portability of the new reformed plan gives people more choices in coverage and ensures their coverage, despite job changing, unemployment or illness.
  
  
• 811,000 Washingtonians are uninsured. Without reform that number could grow to 1.1 million by 2019. The health insurance exchange market will assist those without health insurance coverage, as well as the 395,000 Washingtonians with individual health insurance.
  
  
• Long-term home care and community based services are supported with this new plan. Estimates state that long term care will be needed by 65% of people 65 and older. Such care is about $18,000 yearly. There are 2.4 million Washingtonians between the ages of 55 and 64 who will need this care. Such things are not typically covered by Medicaid, Medicare or even private health insurance.
  
  
• Cash benefits will be provided to seniors and the disabled to get services from home, so they can remain in their communities while receiving long-term care.
  
  
• 170,000 disabled Washingtonians on Medicaid disability income could benefit from a new Medicaid home based and community based services. This would cut the need for nursing homes.