How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Washington

Shopping for health insurance in Washington should involve comparing rates from multiple health insurance companies so you can find the best possible deal on a health plan. Fortunately, Washington residents have access to lower-than-average health plan prices and one of the best health care systems in the United States.

Continue reading to find out more about Washington health insurance such as what types of plans are the cheapest and when you can shop for coverage.

On This Page

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  Is Health Insurance Required in Washington?

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  Washington Health Insurance Rankings

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  How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Washington?

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  What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Washington by City?

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  Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Washington?

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  When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Washington?

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  What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Washington?

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  How To Get Health Insurance in Washington

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  FAQs

Is Health Insurance Required in Washington?

In practice, health insurance is not required in Washington. Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) officially requires everyone in the United States to be covered, the individual mandate provision is no longer enforced at the federal level and the Washington state government does not impose a penalty on uninsured individuals.^[1]

Washington Health Insurance Rankings

According to the Commonwealth Fund, Washington has the second-best health care system among Western states and the seventh-best system in the entire country. Washington notably ranks third in the nation when it comes to limiting avoidable hospital visits. Below, you’ll find a table that includes Washington’s rank for all of the metrics measured in the Commonwealth Fund’s analysis.^[2]

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Washington?

Washingtonians enjoy fairly cheap Marketplace health coverage, with benchmark plans costing $415 per month on average in Washington and $477 per month on average throughout the nation. Other monthly average prices worth noting include $293 for Washington state’s lowest-cost plan in the bronze tier, $403 for its lowest-cost silver plan and $411 for its lowest-cost gold plan.^[3]

Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Washington

Opting for a bronze-tier plan will lead to the greatest savings on your monthly premiums, albeit with the trade-off that you will have to spend more out of pocket each time you receive medical care.^[4] Similarly, you can save money by choosing a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan over a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. HMOs have lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs than PPOs but don’t cover certain benefits like out-of-network care and specialist visits without a referral.^[5]

What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Washington by City?

In the next table, you’ll see sample quotes for five major cities sourced from Washington’s state-run marketplace website, Washington Healthplanfinder. These median rates apply to 30-year-olds earning $40,000 per year and do not take premium tax credits into account.^[6]

Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Washington?

Ambetter offers the single cheapest health plan in Washington, while Community Health Plan of Washington has the lowest average rate for silver health plans. See the below table for all of the health insurance companies that have an average silver plan premium below $600 per month for 40-year-old Washingtonians.^[7]

When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Washington?

Every year, open enrollment takes place from November 1 to January 15 in Washington. If you don’t sign up during open enrollment, you won’t be able to join a Marketplace health plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a qualifying life event like losing your job or giving birth to or adopting a child.^[8]

What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Washington?

Several types of health insurance are available for purchase in Washington including the following:

• Marketplace health insurance
• Private coverage purchased directly from a health insurance company
• Employer-sponsored group health insurance
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
• Medicare
• Medicaid, also known as Apple Health in Washington
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), also known as Apple Health for Kids in Washington
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
• Student health plans

How To Get Health Insurance in Washington

To get started with the insurance shopping process, consider collecting health insurance quotes from at least three to five different carriers. You’ll need to provide information like your ZIP code, household size and household income, which can make for a burdensome ordeal if you try contacting insurers one by one.

Fortunately, SmartFinancial makes insurance shopping easy. Just let us know a little bit about your coverage needs and budget and then we’ll help you find a personalized health plan, potentially in as little as a few minutes. Talk to an agent today about comparing health insurance quotes for free.