Cascade Care Savings
During the 2021 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed , directing the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (Exchange) to establish a state premium assistance program, now named Cascade Care Savings. In the , funding was provided to extend premium assistance to Washington residents earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level beginning in 2023. Cascade Care Savings aims to increase access to coverage on the Exchange by making health plan premiums as affordable as possible.
Cascade Care Savings materials
Plan year 2025
Public Comment Period on Draft PY 2025 Cascade Care Savings Policy
Washington Health Benefit Exchange is seeking public comment on its draft 2024 Cascade Care Savings Policy from 8 a.m., March 15, 2024, through 5 p.m., April 15, 2024. The Exchange will host a public comment meeting from 2 to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9.
- Read the draft PY2025 Cascade Care Savings Policy
- Visit the event page for the April 9 public comment meeting
Send an email to [email protected]. Please include “Public Comment” in the subject line of your email.
Plan year 2024
The Exchange held a public comment period from March 21-April 17, 2023, on the draft 2024 Cascade Care Savings policy.
- The Exchange held a public comment period from July 19, 2023–Aug. 18, 2023, on the Draft 2024 Cascade Care Savings Amount Methodology report. On Aug. 15, the Exchange held a virtual public comment meeting.
- The Exchange finalized the two fixed-dollar maximum per-enrollee Cascade Care Savings amount for plan year 2024 to be $155 per member per month (PMPM) for members eligible for federal subsidies and $250 PMPM for members not eligible for federal subsidies. Read the Final PY 2024 Cascade Care Savings Amount Methodology.
Plan year 2023
- 2023 Cascade Care Savings policy.
- The Exchange held a public comment period from Aug. 9 – Sept. 1, 2022, on the DRAFT 2023 Cascade Care Savings Amount Methodology and Draft 2023 Cascade Care Savings Amount Methodology Analysis.
- The Exchange held an on Sept. 1, 2022, presenting a slideshow about the projected Cascade Care Savings subsidy amount.
- The Exchange finalized the fixed-dollar maximum per-enrollee Cascade Care Savings amount for plan year 2023 to be $155 per month per member (PMPM). Read the final Plan Year 2023 Cascade Care Savings Amount Methodology Analysis.
- View the Cascade Care Savings handout.
Program Overview
Cascade Care Savings is a new state-funded premium subsidy program that will lower monthly premium payments for eligible customers starting in 2023. These savings are available exclusively through Washington Healthplanfinder.
Cascade Care Savings is part of the broader Cascade Care program, the Exchange’s primary affordability initiative. The Cascade Care program has been developed at the direction of the Washington Legislature over the past several years.
The final Cascade Care Savings per member per month (PMPM) amount was finalized in October 2022.
For 2023, based on the Legislative appropriation of $50 million, Cascade Care Savings is up to $155 PMPM. Cascade Care Savings wraps around any available federal premium tax credits.
Cascade Care Savings is available to qualifying Exchange customers who:
- Are not eligible for minimum essential coverage through Medicaid or Medicare;
- Have a household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level — check out the Exchange’s FPL calculator; and
- Enroll in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold qualified health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder.
- These plans cover more health care services at lower costs and before the deductible, making it easier to access and afford care like regular check-ups and preventive care.
- American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) individuals may enroll in any plan that allows them to take advantage of their $0 cost-sharing reduction benefit.
The Cascade Care Savings program helps both customers who are receiving federal tax credits and those who are not. Customers must apply for and take all federal premium tax credits they are eligible for before they can qualify for any state subsidies.
Customers can sign up for Cascade Care Savings through Washington Healthplanfinder, or by calling the Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633. Eligibility is determined by Washington Healthplanfinder. The new savings will be applied when a customer’s 2023 coverage begins.
- Customers who are already enrolled in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan will have the new savings automatically applied to their coverage when it is renewed for 2023.
- Customers not already in enrolled in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold will need to newly sign up for, or switch to, a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan during open-enrollment (Nov. 1 – Jan. 15) or outside open-enrollment using the Cascade Care Savings special enrollment period (SEP). The SEP is automatically opened when customers not already in enrolled in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan are determined eligible for the Cascade Care Savings program.
For eligible customers, their Cascade Care Savings amount will be displayed on screen and included in customer notifications, similar to federal premium tax credits, beginning Nov. 1, 2022.
Program Implementation
A customer is not eligible to receive Cascade Care Savings if they have other minimum essential coverage — such as coverage through Washington Apple Health/Medicaid or Medicare. Or if the customer is already receiving fully subsidized state coverage through the Compact of Free Association (COFA) Islander Premium Assistance Program and Health Care Premium Assistance for Employees of Child Care Facilities.
Yes. All insurance carriers who offer plans through Washington Healthplanfinder offer Cascade Care Silver and Gold plans. Cascade Care plans consist of Cascade and Cascade Select (public option) plans. Cascade Care plans have “Cascade” in the plan name and the Cascade Care logo displayed next to them in Washington Healthplanfinder.
To qualify for Cascade Care Savings, a customer must buy a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan through Washington Healthplanfinder.
This new SEP allows customers who qualify for Cascade Care Savings — who are not already enrolled in a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan — to sign up for a Cascade Care Silver or Gold Plan outside of open-enrollment, so they can benefit from Cascade Care Savings. For customers who qualify, this special enrollment period will automatically open.
Note: If existing customers use this SEP to switch to a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan during the plan year, all amounts they have already spent toward out-of-pocket limits will carry over if they stay with their current insurance carrier.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, current enhanced federal premium tax credits are extended through 2025. The Cascade Care Savings program builds on existing federal subsidies to maximize available state resources. Customers need to use the full amount of their approved federal tax credits to be eligible for Cascade Care Savings.
The extended federal subsidies, in combination with Cascade Care Savings, will create an unprecedented opportunity for uninsured, low-income Washington residents get covered, especially individuals and families working in lower-wage jobs.
No. Unlike premium tax credits, Cascade Care Savings is state-funded and does not need federal tax filing reconciliation. Customers may be asked to submit documents to verify income or other coverage eligibility requirements prior to receiving Cascade Care Savings.
If you are interested in following Cascade Care implementation, please subscribe to receive emails with information about updates, upcoming meetings, stakeholder input opportunities, and other relevant announcements.
Any remaining questions about Cascade Care and/or Cascade Care Savings can be emailed to [email protected].