Individual Market News
Published June 8, 2021
We’ve submitted our 2022 filing with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). Here’s an overview of the Premera individual and family plans for next year, pending OIC approval:
Counties
In 2022 you’ll find us in 5 counties: Franklin, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Pacific. This reduces our footprint by 2 counties, exiting Skamania and Wahkiakum. Members in those counties will be notified in their annual notice, typically mailed in
September.
What you can do: For your clients in Skamania and Wahkiakum counties, Healthplanfinder will most likely automatically map them to a new plan. Be ready to review their plan options with them to ensure they’re enrolled in the right plan.
Plans
All current Premera plans are back for 2022. Our 7 plans are: Preferred Bronze, Preferred Bronze HSA, Preferred Silver, Preferred Gold, Cascade bronze, Cascade Silver, and Cascade Gold.
What you can do: Be ready to answer client questions about 2022 plans once annual notices are mailed. Discontinuation notices are typically mailed in September, and renewal notices in October.
Network
Our Individual Signature network is once again the largest of any Individual insurer in WA. Your clients will have access to providers at UW Medicine, Providence, Swedish, Virginia Mason, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and
more.
What you can do: Remind your clients to take advantage of the extensive Premera network by selecting a PCP in their online account. Plus, having an assigned PCP can increase retention among your clients!
Rates
We’ve filed for a 28.9% rate increase. Factors contributing to the rate request include a continued rise in healthcare costs, and an anticipated increase in claims in 2022 as members receive services they deferred during the pandemic. With just five
counties to spread these rising costs in 2022, the new rate will ensure our members have access to the benefits and broad choice of providers they expect from Premera . As a reminder, rates are not final until approved by the OIC, which typically
occurs in late summer or early fall.
What you can do: Help your clients manage the total cost of their healthcare by recommending the following actions.
- Take advantage of any tax American Rescue Plan credits. To find out if they qualify for any ARP tax credits or whether they need to take action, on-exchange members should sign in to their Healthplanfinder account.
- See a provider in their plan’s network. With very few exceptions, members must see an in-network provider in order to have coverage.
- Understand their plan’s benefits. Members can access their plan documents in their online account to find out what’s covered, what’s not, and which cost shares apply to each service.
- Compare costs before receiving care. Members can get a cost estimate by using the Find Care tool in their online account. This is only an estimate; actual costs are determined when the claim is processed.
- Plan ahead to get the right level of care. Members can use the Find Care tool in their online account to find in-network primary care providers and urgent care clinics, so they know where to go when they need care. Getting the right
level of care for non-emergent services helps keep costs down for everyone.
Next Steps
Stay tuned for more open enrollment news in the coming months. Our Producer Support team will be reaching out to help you get ready for 2022.