One map shows huge impact of ACA locally

May 4, 2017.Reading time 1 minute.

The number of uninsured residents of King County has fallen by more than 50% since embracing the ACA, benefitting every neighborhood of the county

Our epidemiologists at Public Health–Seattle & King County (PHSKC) have been keeping track of insurance enrollment for years. And, for a long time, the picture was getting worse year by year, with increasing numbers of people uninsured. That all changed after 2013, when new insurance options became available under the Affordable Care Act. King County embraced the […]

Four ways we are measuring Affordable Care Act proposals

April 27, 2017.Reading time 9 minutes.

By Patty Hayes, Director, Public Health—Seattle & King County As various proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act continue to circulate, here is the yardstick Public Health—Seattle & King County will use to measure any proposals and the potential impacts. Any reform or replacement for the Affordable Care Act should help people lead healthier lives. […]

Uninsured? There’s still time (and good reason) to sign up for 2017 coverage

January 23, 2017.Reading time 2 minutes.

Enrollment assistance for Paul Shin, provided by Jen Covert of PHSKC, at Café Racer in Seattle

The Affordable Care Act (affectionately, “Obamacare”) may be repealed and replaced under the new federal administration, but there’s still time to take advantage of it. In fact, if you sign up by January 31, you should feel confident that your coverage will remain intact for the rest of 2017. Things could look different in 2018, but […]

Should you still sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act? YES

November 18, 2016.Reading time 4 minutes.

Washington Healthplanfinder is the state's online insurance marketplace

Ever since the election, people are wondering whether their health insurance coverage will survive next year, if the Affordable Care Act (sometimes called “Obamacare”) is targeted for repeal. The short answer is, yes.

Uninsured in King County? Outreach team has a plan to help you

October 29, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

Navigators preparing for an enrollment event

The Open Enrollment period for purchasing discount health insurance begins next week, and King County is offering free expert help – with special emphasis on areas where large numbers of uninsured people live and work. Those areas include south King County cities such as Auburn and Federal Way, along with some neighborhoods in Seattle and […]

Taking a deeper dive: Health care Navigators seek the uninsured in Season 3

September 29, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

Public Health's enrollment team at Southcenter Mall during previous enrollment season

The first two years of helping uninsured people enroll in affordable health insurance will be hard to beat. In the first year alone, the number of uninsured adults (under age 65) dropped by 38 percent in King County. That’s four percent more than the rest of the state — and more than in all but one […]