General News
Published June 7, 2021
We’ve submitted our 2022 filing with the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC). Here’s an overview of the LifeWise individual and family plans for next year, pending OIC approval:
Counties
We’re adding two new counties for 2022, Skamania and Wahkiakum. This means you can sell LifeWise plans in 35 counties next year.
What you can do: With virtual tools available, you can easily reach clients statewide. Let us know how can we help you grow your business.
Plans
In 2022, we’re renewing 10 plans:
- Essential plans: Bronze, Bronze HSA, Silver Low Deductible, and Gold
- Cascade Care plans: Cascade Bronze, Cascade Silver, and Cascade Gold
- Cascade Select plans: Cascade Select Bronze, Cascade Select Silver, and Cascade Select Gold in Adams, Benton, and Klickitat counties
We’re discontinuing 4 plans:
- On-exchange plans: Essential Bronze II and Essential Silver High Deductible. Healthplanfinder will most likely automatically map these members to a new plan for January 1, 2022.
- Off-exchange plans: Primary Gold and Primary Silver.
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
Your Essential and Cascade plan clients can keep seeing providers in the LifeWise Primary network, which features more than 30,000 providers including Providence, Swedish, and CHI Franciscan. Cascade Select will continue to use the LifeWise Alpine network, and grandfathered plans will continue to use the LifeWise Preferred network.
What you can do: Remind your clients to take advantage of the LifeWise 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 6.8% rate increase. The increase will help cover the rise in anticipated healthcare and claims costs while ensuring members have continued access to the providers and benefits they need. As a reminder, this is subject to change and 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 with the following recommendations.
- Take advantage of any American Rescue Plan (ARP) tax 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.