By Molly Rosbach

Yakima Herald-Republic

The fourth year of open enrollment through the Affordable Care Act begins Tuesday, and state and local health care leaders are hoping uninsured individuals will continue to sign up on the Health Benefit Exchange despite higher costs and fewer options.

In Washington, at least, officials say the average rate increase on Qualified Health Plans across the state is only 8 percent, compared to nationwide average increases of 25 percent.

“Even last year, affordability was the No. 1 issue,” said chief operations officer Rhonda Hauff at Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, the lead agency in Yakima County for helping people sign up through the online exchange. “You have to weigh that against the potential cost of remaining uninsured” — including unexpected illness or injury, as well as the federal penalty.

The penalty for not purchasing insurance is either 2.5 percent of annual household income, or $695 per adult and $347.50 per child under age 18, whichever is higher. The federal government has not yet released the maximum cap on the penalty, which is calculated based on the average cost of a year’s worth of premiums for a bronze plan.

Medical plans range from a $519 monthly premium with $650 annual deductible on a Community Health Plan of Washington gold plan, to a $212 premium with $7,150 deductible on the lone Group Health catastrophic plan.

Those costs are pre-tax credit or subsidy, which are based on income. People earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level — or about $97,000 for a family of four — are eligible for some amount of subsidy.

The increase in cost this year “is a concern,” said Michael Marchand, communications director for the Health Benefit Exchange, but not an overwhelming one, from his perspective.

“It’s super important to remember that with any increases … along with those come increases in your tax credit,” he said. “So for many people, while they’ll see an increase in their premium, that increase will be offset by the additional monies they receive for tax credits.”

Or, depending on what’s offered in each county, people may need to shop around for a different product that better fits their budget and needs.

“They may find a better deal, based on the price changes and how they use their coverage,” she said. “If they’re comfortable doing it themselves, that’s great; if they have questions or want help learning to compare,” navigators are standing by.