For individual health insurance, Spokane residents use Washington Healthplanfinder, the state exchange for Spokane County. Open Enrollment runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; enroll by Dec 31 for Jan 1 coverage. Key local fact: Providence Health Plan stops selling individual plans in 2027, but Providence hospitals stay open.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Providence Health Plan vs. Providence hospitals
- Where Spokane residents buy coverage
- Spokane hospital networks
- CHAS Health and low-cost care
- Fairchild Air Force Base families and TRICARE
- Living near the Idaho border
- College students in Spokane
- Wildfire season and your plan
- 2027 dates and savings
- Frequently asked questions
Health insurance Spokane change: Providence Health Plan vs. Providence hospitals
Providence Health Plan, the insurance company, will not offer individual coverage in Washington for 2027, according to the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. Anyone with that plan must choose a new one during Open Enrollment. That is a separate business from the Providence hospitals and clinics that many Spokane families use.
Providence has said the health plan closure does not affect its hospitals, medical groups or other care operations, as OPB reported. So the question for 2027 is not “Is Providence closing?” but “Which new plan keeps my Providence doctors in-network?” Check that before you enroll.
Only a few hundred Washington residents had a Providence individual plan, so most Spokane shoppers won’t be directly affected. Everyone should still compare, because Washington’s approved rates rose 22.2% on average for 2027.
Where Spokane residents buy health insurance
Washington runs its own exchange, so Spokane residents do not use HealthCare.gov. You apply on Washington Healthplanfinder, or through a certified broker or navigator connected to it. One application checks you for Apple Health, federal tax credits and Washington’s Cascade Care Savings.
The federal tax credit covers households from 100% to 400% of the poverty level. Cascade Care Savings adds state help up to 250% for people who choose a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan. Adults with income up to about 138% of the poverty level usually qualify for Apple Health instead. Our 2027 subsidy guide explains the math, and our Washington state guide lists all 12 insurers approved for 2027.
Spokane hospital networks to check
For health insurance, Spokane networks matter more than in many places. Eastern Washington has fewer large hospital systems than the Seattle area, so one network decision carries more weight. Make sure your doctors and preferred hospital are in your 2027 plan before you sign up.
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, a regional medical center on the Spokane River. It is home to the only Level II pediatric trauma center and Level IV NICU in Eastern Washington, per Providence.
- Providence Holy Family Hospital on the north side.
- MultiCare Deaconess Hospital and MultiCare Valley Hospital, part of the MultiCare system.
Families expecting a baby or with kids who have complex needs should look closely at whether Sacred Heart is in-network. Networks change each plan year and carriers vary by county, so search the provider directory by name. Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains network types.
Honesty.AI checks networks, applies your savings and compares every plan sold in Spokane County.
CHAS Health and low-cost care in Spokane
CHAS Health is a nonprofit federally qualified health center based in Spokane. It provides medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health care to people of all ages regardless of ability to pay. It also runs a sliding fee discount program and offers enrollment assistance for Apple Health and Marketplace plans.
That makes CHAS Health a practical first stop for health insurance Spokane questions and for care itself. It is especially useful if you are uninsured, between plans or need help applying. Its 24/7 nurse advice line in Washington is 509.444.8200. For public health questions, vaccines and local health alerts, the county’s health agency is the Spokane Regional Health District.
If you get a large hospital bill, ask about charity care. Under Washington law, larger hospitals must provide free care for incomes up to 300% of the poverty level and discounts up to 400%, according to the state Department of Health.
Fairchild Air Force Base families and TRICARE
Fairchild Air Force Base sits just west of Spokane. Active-duty service members and their families are covered by TRICARE, not Healthplanfinder. If you are enrolled in TRICARE, you generally cannot get a premium tax credit on a Marketplace plan.
The Marketplace matters at transition points. Leaving the military, losing TRICARE eligibility or a family member aging out of TRICARE coverage can open a Special Enrollment Period. Compare TRICARE options with a Healthplanfinder plan before your current coverage ends.
Living near the Idaho border
Many people commute between Spokane and the Coeur d’Alene area. Your individual plan follows where you live, not where you work. Spokane County residents buy through Washington Healthplanfinder; Idaho residents use Idaho’s own exchange.
Moving across the state line is a qualifying life event that can open a Special Enrollment Period in your new state. If you see doctors on both sides of the border, check whether your plan’s network includes providers in Idaho. Many Washington plans have limited out-of-state networks.
College students in Spokane
Spokane is home to Gonzaga University, Whitworth University and Washington State University’s health sciences campus, with Eastern Washington University nearby in Cheney. Students under 26 can usually stay on a parent’s plan. If that plan is an HMO based in another state, it may only cover emergencies here.
Students on their own can compare a school plan with a Healthplanfinder plan. Shopping for health insurance, Spokane students often overlook the tax credit, which is based on income, not student status. A student with low income may qualify for Apple Health or a sizable tax credit. Count only your own income if no one claims you as a dependent.
Wildfire season and your plan
Summer wildfires and smoke are a real part of life in the Inland Northwest. Keep your insurance card, plan ID and your doctors’ numbers saved on your phone in case you have to leave home quickly.
If a disaster forces you to move or causes you to lose coverage, that can open a Special Enrollment Period. Missing Open Enrollment because of a declared emergency may also qualify. Contact Healthplanfinder at 855-923-4633 as soon as you can.
Health insurance Spokane dates and savings for 2027
The 2027 calendar in Spokane is the same as the rest of Washington, which runs longer than HealthCare.gov states. Use December 31 as your real deadline if you want coverage on New Year’s Day.
| Item | Spokane County, 2027 plan year |
|---|---|
| Where to enroll | Washington Healthplanfinder |
| Open Enrollment | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 |
| Coverage from Jan 1 | Enroll by Dec 31, 2026 |
| Coverage from Feb 1 | Enroll Jan 1 – 15, 2027 |
| Federal tax credit range | 100% – 400% of the poverty level |
| State Cascade Care Savings | Up to 250% of the poverty level |
| Apple Health (adults) | Up to about 138% of the poverty level, all year |
| Federal maximum out-of-pocket | $12,000 individual / $24,000 family |
When you compare health insurance, Spokane households should weigh the deductible and out-of-pocket maximum alongside the premium. A plan with a lower premium can cost more in a year with a hospital stay. See our Open Enrollment 2027 guide for the national rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still see Providence doctors in Spokane in 2027?
Yes, if they are in your new plan’s network. Providence Health Plan is leaving the individual market, but Providence says its hospitals and medical groups are not affected. Check each 2027 plan’s provider directory for your Providence doctors.
What is the deadline for 2027 health insurance in Spokane?
Open Enrollment on Washington Healthplanfinder runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 31, 2026 for coverage starting January 1. Enrollments from January 1 to 15 start February 1.
Where can uninsured people in Spokane get care?
CHAS Health is a federally qualified health center that serves patients regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee discount program. It also helps people enroll in Apple Health and Marketplace plans.
I live in Spokane but work in Idaho. Which exchange do I use?
You use Washington Healthplanfinder, because individual coverage is based on where you live. If you move to Idaho, that move can open a Special Enrollment Period on Idaho’s exchange.
Do Fairchild Air Force Base families need a Healthplanfinder plan?
Usually not. Active-duty families are covered by TRICARE, and people enrolled in TRICARE generally cannot get a premium tax credit. Leaving the military or losing TRICARE eligibility can open a Special Enrollment Period on Washington Healthplanfinder.
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Keep learning: read the statewide Washington health insurance guide, our affordable health insurance Washington hub, the Seattle guide, the Open Enrollment 2027 guide and how Honesty.AI works.
