For individual health insurance, Washington residents use Washington Healthplanfinder, the state-run exchange. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027; sign up by Dec 31 for a Jan 1 start. Washington adds its own premium help, Cascade Care Savings, for households up to 250% of the poverty level.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Health insurance Washington at a glance
- How Washington Healthplanfinder works
- 2027 Open Enrollment dates in Washington
- Apple Health, Apple Health for Kids and 2027 changes
- Federal tax credits plus Cascade Care Savings
- Insurers and rates for 2027
- Choosing the right plan for your household
- Seattle, Spokane and the rest of the state
- Free help and consumer protection
- Frequently asked questions
Shopping for your own coverage in a year of rising rates can feel like a lot. This guide to health insurance, Washington edition, pulls the official 2027 facts into one place. If keeping the monthly bill down is your top concern, start with our affordable health insurance Washington guide, then come back here for the full picture.
Health insurance Washington at a glance for 2027
Washington runs its own exchange, so you do not use HealthCare.gov. Plans, state savings and Apple Health (Medicaid) applications all go through Washington Healthplanfinder. The table below lists the official names and dates you need for the 2027 plan year.
| Item | Washington, 2027 plan year |
|---|---|
| Exchange | State-based: Washington Healthplanfinder, run by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange |
| Open Enrollment | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (by Dec 31 for Jan 1 coverage) |
| Medicaid expansion | Yes, since 2014 (KFF tracker) |
| Medicaid program | Washington Apple Health, run by the Health Care Authority |
| Children’s coverage (CHIP) | Apple Health for Kids |
| State help programs | Cascade Care plans, Cascade Select (public option) and Cascade Care Savings |
| 2027 insurers | 12 carriers approved by the Exchange board; choices vary by county |
| Insurance regulator | Office of the Insurance Commissioner, consumer hotline 800-562-6900 |
| Uninsured rate | 6.5% in 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS) |
The uninsured figure comes from the Census Bureau brief Health Insurance Coverage by State: 2023 and 2024. Washington sits well below the national rate of 8.2% for the same year.
How Washington Healthplanfinder works
Washington Healthplanfinder is the only place to get federal premium tax credits and state Cascade Care Savings on a Washington individual plan. One application checks you for Apple Health, tax credits and state savings at the same time. You can apply online, by phone or with a certified navigator or broker.
The Exchange also sells Cascade Care plans. These are standardized plans, which means the deductibles and copays follow a set design so you can compare insurers side by side. Cascade Select is the state’s public option version of those plans. The Washington Health Benefit Exchange explains both.
Every plan covers essential health benefits such as doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, maternity and mental health care. No insurer can turn you down or charge you more for a pre-existing condition. Our health insurance Marketplace guide explains how exchanges work in general.
2027 Open Enrollment dates in Washington
Washington’s 2027 Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Unlike HealthCare.gov states, Washington lets you sign up through December 31 and still start coverage on January 1. Healthplanfinder’s federal changes page lists these dates.
| If you enroll… | Your coverage starts |
|---|---|
| Nov 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | January 1, 2027 |
| Jan 1 – Jan 15, 2027 | February 1, 2027 |
| After Jan 15, 2027 | Only with a qualifying life event, or Apple Health (open all year) |
The Exchange first planned to end Open Enrollment on December 31. It extended the window to January 15 after a June 2026 federal court ruling. Missing the deadline is still costly, so pick a plan early. Moving, losing job coverage, marriage or a new baby can open a Special Enrollment Period. Our Open Enrollment 2027 guide covers the national rules.
Already enrolled for 2026? Renewal is not the same as shopping. Your current plan’s premium, drug list and network can all change for 2027, and your tax credit is recalculated from your new income estimate. Log in to Healthplanfinder, update your income and compare at least three plans before the deadline.
Apple Health, Apple Health for Kids and 2027 changes
Washington expanded Medicaid, so most adults ages 19 to 64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level qualify for Washington Apple Health. You can apply any time of year through Healthplanfinder. Children are covered under Apple Health for Kids, which also serves families with incomes above the adult limit.
Two federal changes matter for 2027. First, Healthplanfinder says work requirements for Apple Health for Adults begin January 1, 2027. Second, noncitizen eligibility rules changed on October 1, 2026. The Health Care Authority has details on both.
Apple Health Expansion is not open to new members. This state-funded program covers some adults who do not qualify for Apple Health because of immigration status. Funding is capped, and the Health Care Authority closed new enrollment in late 2025. Check HCA for the current status before you rely on it.
Federal tax credits plus Cascade Care Savings
Washington households can stack two kinds of premium help. The federal premium tax credit is for incomes from 100% to 400% of the poverty level. Cascade Care Savings is a state subsidy for households up to 250% of the poverty level who choose a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan.
The enhanced federal credits expired on December 31, 2025, so the 400% “subsidy cliff” is back for 2027. Above that line you get no federal credit. Below it, the IRS caps what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan at a share of income, from 2.15% under 133% FPL up to 10.22% from 300% to 400% FPL. The IRS premium tax credit page explains the rules.
Cascade Care Savings has one big difference. Healthplanfinder says people of any immigration status who qualify by income can still receive it. That matters in 2027, because federal tax credits will be limited to lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants from January 1. See the Cascade Care Savings page and our 2027 subsidy guide.
If your income is at or below 250% FPL, a Silver plan may also come with cost-sharing reductions that lower your deductible and copays. One more 2027 change: people who received too much financial help must now pay back the full excess at tax time. Report income changes quickly.
Honesty.AI checks tax credits, Cascade Care Savings and Apple Health eligibility in one conversation.
Insurers and rates for 2027
On September 10, 2026, the Exchange board certified 81 health plans from a dozen insurers for 2027. Not every insurer sells in every county. The Exchange announcement lists these carriers:
- BridgeSpan Health Company
- Community Health Plan of Washington
- Coordinated Care Corporation
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
- LifeWise Health Plan of Washington
- Molina Healthcare of Washington
- Premera Blue Cross
- Regence BlueShield and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
- UnitedHealthcare of Oregon
- Wellpoint Washington
Providence Health Plan will not sell individual coverage in 2027. Its Washington members need to pick a new plan. Rates are also rising again: the approved average increase is 22.2%, per the Exchange. That makes shopping, rather than auto-renewing, the smartest move this year.
The health insurance Washington market also shrank in 2026. Nearly 250,000 residents bought plans through the Exchange, 13% fewer than the year before. When a market loses healthier members, prices tend to climb, which is part of why rates rose again.
Choosing the right plan for your household
The right plan is the one that covers your doctors and fits how you actually use care. Price matters, but a cheap plan that leaves out your hospital can cost far more later. When you compare health insurance, Washington shoppers should look at four things before the premium.
- Network. Search each plan’s provider directory for your doctors, specialists and preferred hospital. Networks are built around regional systems and change each plan year.
- Metal level. Bronze plans have lower premiums and higher deductibles. Silver plans unlock cost-sharing reductions if your income is at or below 250% FPL. Gold plans cost more each month but less when you get care.
- Cascade Care or not. Cascade Care plans use standard designs, and only Cascade Care Silver or Gold plans qualify for Cascade Care Savings.
- Prescriptions. Check each plan’s drug list for the medicines you take every month.
Self-employed workers, early retirees and people between jobs make up a big share of the individual market. If you are leaving an employer plan, compare COBRA with a Healthplanfinder plan before you decide; losing job coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period. Our checklist on how to choose a health plan walks through the trade-offs step by step.
Seattle, Spokane and the rest of the state
For health insurance, Washington ZIP codes decide which insurers and networks you can pick from. Western and eastern Washington have different hospital systems, so the “best” plan in one region may be a poor fit in another. Our local guides go deeper:
- Health insurance in Seattle: King County’s free enrollment help, Harborview and UW Medicine networks, and community health centers for families on a budget.
- Health insurance in Spokane: Providence and MultiCare networks, CHAS Health, Fairchild Air Force Base families and Idaho border questions.
Living near the Oregon border? Your coverage follows where you live, not where you work. Residents of Clark County buy through Healthplanfinder even if they commute to Portland.
Free health insurance Washington help and consumer protection
You can get free, unbiased enrollment help from a certified navigator. Healthplanfinder has a navigator search and a separate broker search. You can also call Healthplanfinder at 855-923-4633.
If an insurer denies a claim or you have a complaint, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner runs a consumer hotline at 800-562-6900. Washington also has one of the country’s strongest hospital charity care laws. Larger hospitals must provide free care to patients with income up to 300% of the poverty level, with discounts up to 400%, per a Department of Health report. Charity care is a safety net, not a replacement for real coverage.
Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is licensed in Washington and 48 other states plus DC. We are a private agency, not a government office.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy health insurance in Washington state?
Washington residents buy individual and family plans through Washington Healthplanfinder, the state-run exchange, or through a certified broker or navigator connected to it. Washington does not use HealthCare.gov. Federal tax credits and Cascade Care Savings are only available on plans bought through Healthplanfinder.
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 in Washington?
Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027. Sign up by December 31, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027. Enrollments from January 1 to 15 start February 1, 2027.
What is Cascade Care Savings?
Cascade Care Savings is Washington’s state premium subsidy. It is available to households with income up to 250% of the federal poverty level who choose a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan through Healthplanfinder. People of any immigration status who qualify by income can receive it.
Is Providence leaving the Washington individual market?
Yes. Providence Health Plan will not offer individual coverage in 2027, according to the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. Members need to choose a new plan during Open Enrollment. Providence hospitals and clinics are separate from the insurance company.
Can I get Apple Health outside Open Enrollment?
Yes. Apple Health (Medicaid) accepts applications all year through Washington Healthplanfinder. Most adults ages 19 to 64 with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level qualify, and new work requirements for Apple Health for Adults begin January 1, 2027.
Compare Washington plans with Honesty.AI
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Keep learning: read our affordable health insurance Washington guide, the local guides for Seattle and Spokane, the 2027 subsidy guide and how a Special Enrollment Period works.
