Washington State has received conditional approval by the Federal government to move forward with a state-based health insurance exchange starting next October. Washington was one of six states to get the early approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Washington Healthplanfinder will be the online portal for people to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage. Washington Healthplanfinder will begin enrolling consumers on October 1, 2013, for health insurance coverage beginning on January 1, 2014.
The other States approved are: Maryland, Oregon, Massachusetts, Colorado and Connecticut.
 
A health exchange is a critical part of the Affordable Care Act passed by Congress in 2010. It changes the way health insurance is sold by centralizing the sale of health plans into a public online marketplace for each state. People will still be able to buy health coverage outside of the public exchange through other channels. States that don't have an exchange up and running in time for the Oct. 1 enrollment period, when people buy coverage for 2014, may use a site offered by the federal government.
Gov. Chris Gregoire says 200,000 uninsured Washingtonians will be able to receive insurance through the exchange.

For more information:  Health Benefit Exchange
or
Washington Health Benefit Exchange Awarded Conditional Blueprint Approval

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