Washington one of top states in health care enrollment

komonews.com ^ | Jan 13, 2014 | DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP

[steve86]

SEATTLE (AP) - Washington state signed up more people for health insurance than all but a handful of states during the first few months of enrollment under the health care overhaul.

According to a new federal report released Monday, only California, Michigan, North Carolina, New York and Texas have signed up more people up for health insurance since Oct. 1. All of those states have larger populations than Washington.

[steve86]

Most of the usual questions, such as "How many were Medicaid?" and "How many have paid?" are answered in the article.

[steve86]

More than 71,000 people have signed up for private insurance through Washington's new health care exchange. Another 72,000 will be enrolled after they complete payment on their insurance. The Washington exchange had a goal of getting 130,000 people into private insurance plans by Jan. 1.

The total number of people either buying private insurance or enrolling in free insurance through Medicaid is now more than 248,000. More than 121,000 of those signing up are newly eligible for the expanded Medicaid.

[digger48]

The Parasite Class has a new host body to suck the life out of.

[FlingWingFlyer]

That’s what happens when you legalize marijuana.

[Ramius]

I’m one of them. I’m in WA. Last year I had a blue cross policy that was fine... A bit more than I would’ve liked but it was a good policy that got me the stuff I wanted. It was killed by Obamacare. I was forced onto the state exchange and after going through the website was only given ONE option: AppleCare (Medicaid).

I am voluntarily semi-retired. I am not working but I’m not looking either. I’m in my early 50s. My last job of over 22 years left me reasonably well off. I can easily afford not to work for the foreseeable future. I have no debt. My home is paid for. I have a significant portfolio that’s performing nicely. What I don’t have right now is much actual income. That was the only question I was asked. I didn’t lie... Perhaps I should have.

But now I have free “insurance”. I wasn’t given a choice. I don’t like it. I’m embarrassed by the whole thing. But there it is.

[ConjunctionJunction]

For your Washington state ping list.

[goodnesswins]

Well...the government is destroying health care insurance....you took one of the options...just HOPE you can really get “care.”

[Parmy]

That is what I understand as well. Most of our (Washington’s) enrollment is medicaid. Some enrollment success. Enslee is really bragging about it.

[Ramius]

Well...the government is destroying health care insurance....you took one of the options...just HOPE you can really get “care.”

What I'm planning to do is if I really need some healthcare and can't get it (I'm pretty healthy and haven't needed any actual healthcare in many years) is that I'll just pay for it myself. We'll see.

[txrefugee]

Great! Texas has hundreds of thousands of illegals we’ll be happy to send you so they can sign up, too. And by the way, states will wind up paying for all this “free health care” eventually. That’s always the way it turns out.

[steve86]

I understand your income is below the 133% or 138% minimum level for elgibility to purchase a subsidized exchange policy. Don't feel too bad; mine is as well. So your only options are Expanded Medicaid or purchase of a non-exchange commercial policy. The latter option is probably only feasible if you have substantial savings.

I have a significant portfolio that’s performing nicely.

If you really want out of EM and onto a subsidized exchange policy, just take some profits (but not TOO much) and enroll in the exchange by March. Capital gains ARE counted (IRS rules).

[steve86]

Washington State has always been pretty good about screening illegal adults out of Medicaid and Basic Health (former state-subsidized plan).

[steve86]

The pot stores don’t open until June at the earliest but thanks for the thought.

[ConjunctionJunction]

Where I live there are pot stores on just about every block. I guess with their green cross symbol, they are technically medical marijuana stores, though. I imagine they will sell recreational pot once the deadline rolls around.

[FlingWingFlyer]

Hmmmm. Somebody must be selling it.

[ConjunctionJunction]

It’s really easy to get a medical marijuana card here.

[steve86]

Yes, I’ve heard many will be converting, but I think the location requirements are different and more stringent. I have personally never seen a medical marijuana store so clearly am in a different neighborhood.

[steve86]

I think that few, if any, of those at the Seattle Marijuana Festival were brandishing medical marijuana or legal marijuana of any kind.

[ConjunctionJunction]

Look for signs that look similar to this:

I'm seeing them all over the place now.

[ConjunctionJunction]

Technically, smoking it in public is illegal, but that isn’t stopping them.

:(