The Cascade Care Savings Program in Washington state is designed to enhance the accessibility and affordability of high-quality health care coverage for individuals. A key component of this initiative is ensuring that residents across all Washington counties have a diverse selection of qualified health plans to choose from.
Key Achievements of Cascade Select Plans in 2024
The Plan Year 2024 demonstrates significant progress in making healthcare more affordable through Cascade Select plans:
- Lower Premium Increases: Cascade Select plans saw significantly smaller premium increases compared to other plans. The average premium increase for Cascade Select was just 3 percent, dramatically lower than the 9 percent average increase for non-Cascade plans. This translates to considerable savings for enrollees.
- Expanded Access to Low-Cost Public Options: Public option plans, a core element of Cascade Select, are now the lowest-premium silver plans in 31 counties. This is a substantial increase from 13 counties in 2023, making affordable options available to more people.
- Increased Availability Across Counties: Cascade Select public option plans are available in 37 counties throughout Washington. This represents growth from 34 counties in 2023 and a significant expansion from just 19 counties in 2021, broadening the reach of affordable healthcare.
- Widespread Access for Current Customers: An impressive 99 percent of current Washington Healthplanfinder customers now have access to a public option plan, ensuring that the vast majority of users can benefit from these cost-saving measures.
Cascade Care vs. Cascade Select: What’s the Difference?
It’s important to distinguish between Cascade Care plans and Cascade Select plans to fully understand the savings program.
A Cascade Care plan features a standardized benefit design. This design prioritizes lower deductibles and ensures that individuals can access healthcare services without needing to meet a high deductible first. The standardized benefits make it easier for consumers to compare plans from different insurance carriers on an “apples to apples” basis. Cascade Care plans are available on the individual market through Washington’s Healthplanfinder, the state’s health insurance marketplace.
A Cascade Select plan is Washington’s public option. It builds upon the foundation of Cascade Care by incorporating the same standard benefit design but adds further requirements aimed at enhancing value and affordability. These additional requirements include:
- Community Quality Standards: Cascade Select plans are required to incorporate community quality standards, promoting a focus on high-quality care within local areas.
- Value-Based Purchasing: These plans emphasize value-based purchasing, which incentivizes healthcare providers to deliver better outcomes at a lower cost.
- Aggregate Limits on Provider Reimbursement: Cascade Select plans include aggregate limits on how much providers are reimbursed, helping to control overall healthcare costs.
These combined standards work to improve access to high-value healthcare services while simultaneously reducing costs for consumers. The cascade care savings program is largely driven by the benefits and structure of these Cascade Select plans.
How to Enroll in Cascade Care and Cascade Select Plans
If you are interested in enrolling in a Cascade Care or Cascade Select plan and taking advantage of the cascade care savings program, you can do so through Washington Healthplanfinder. Open enrollment begins on November 1, 2024, and runs through January 15, 2025. This is the primary period for individuals to sign up for health insurance coverage for the upcoming year.
In addition to open enrollment, you may be eligible to enroll in a Cascade Care plan throughout the year if you qualify for a Cascade Care Savings Special Enrollment Period. To determine your eligibility and learn more about special enrollment periods, visit the Washington Healthplanfinder website.
Ready to explore your options and potentially benefit from the cascade care savings program? Enroll in health care coverage today through Washington Healthplanfinder.
