Washington Healthplanfinder Mobile Enrollment Tour Kicks Off in Spokane

Stops Across the State Allow Washingtonians to Ask Questions about New Health Plans and Sign Up for Coverage

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Washington Healthplanfinder, the new online marketplace that connects Washingtonians to new health insurance plans and financial help, launched a statewide mobile enrollment tour today in Spokane.

The tour includes multiple stops around Washington and features a customized trailer branded with images from the advertising campaign and outfitted with laptops connected to the Washington Healthplanfinder marketplace — www.wahealthplanfinder.org. Local community organizations, known as in-person assisters, will be available at each stop to answer questions and help people sign up for health coverage.

"Today is just the start of our statewide mobile enrollment tour," said Richard Onizuka, Chief Executive Officer for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. "During October and November, we'll be traveling to local communities in all corners of the state to ensure everyone knows about the new health plans and financial help available through Washington Healthplanfinder."

The tour is a key component of a broader education and enrollment effort that includes advertising, social media engagement, community partnerships and a statewide network of more than a thousand trained insurance brokers and in-person assisters who can help people enroll in coverage. Upcoming stops and local lead in-person assisters include:

• October 20, Yakima Farmers Market: Yakima Neighborhood Health
• October 26, 7th Avenue Park, Longview: Cowlitz Family Health Center
• October 27, Olympia Farmers Market: CHOICE Regional Health Network
• October 30, Vancouver Community Library: Clark County Public Health
• November 2, Tacoma Mall: Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
• November 7, Everett Community College: Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Advancement
• November 9, Kent Memorial Park Building: Public Health -- Seattle & King County
• November 12, University of Washington – Seattle Campus: Public Health -- Seattle & King County

*Detailed Mobile Enrollment Event location information will be available here. Please note that information for events with the Kitsap Public Health District and Benton-Franklin Community Action Connections will be available soon.

"I'm proud to be here in Spokane to help kick off the Washington Healthplanfinder mobile enrollment tour because I know how important it is that we reach every one of the one million residents in our state who is uninsured," said Gov. Jay Inslee. "Our state is now receiving national praise as an example of how to do health reform right. I urge everyone to check out their health insurance options by going to wahealthplanfinder.org."

The enrollment tour launch event in Spokane was held in partnership with the local lead in-person assister organization, Better Health Together, and took place at the NATIVE Project and NATIVE Health, a key community health provider that is part of Washington Healthplanfinder's Tribal Assister Program.

"We've seen tremendous interest and demand for the new health coverage options available on Washington Healthplanfinder," said Deanna Davis, Executive Director of Better Health Together. "Every day our trained assisters are helping people sign up for health coverage—many for the first time. It's incredibly rewarding to help give people the peace of mind that comes with having quality health insurance."

Since the Oct. 1 launch of open enrollment, there have been more than 1 million total site visits to Washington Healthplanfinder, 53,000 calls to the toll-free Customer Support Center, and nearly 25,000 people have signed up for health insurance coverage.

For more information about Washington Healthplanfinder, visit wahealthplanfinder.org

About the Washington Health Benefit Exchange
The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is a public-private partnership established in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) with the goal to redefine people's experience with health care through the creation of a new health insurance marketplace for individuals and small businesses. The Exchange is separate from the state and governed by an independent 11-member board appointed by former Gov. Chris Gregoire in Dec. 2011.

About Washington Healthplanfinder
Washington Healthplanfinder will be a new online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage and gain access to tax credits, reduced cost sharing and public programs such as Medicaid. Washington Healthplanfinder will begin enrolling consumers on Oct. 1, 2013, for health insurance coverage beginning on Jan. 1, 2014.

SOURCE Washington Healthplanfinder