Washington Health Insurance 2026

Washington State operates Washington Healthplanfinder, one of the more sophisticated state-based exchanges, with 65–100 plans statewide. Kaiser Permanente, Premera, and Molina are the leading carriers. Silver premiums average $410–$430/month for a 40-year-old before subsidies. Washington offers Cascade Care, a standardized public option plan sold through private insurers at regulated premium levels — a model that has attracted national attention as a potential template for federal public option legislation. The Puget Sound metro has robust competition; Eastern Washington and Olympic Peninsula have thinner markets.

Washington expanded Medicaid (Apple Health) in 2014 and has maintained strong enrollment. The state has extended Medicaid to all income-eligible residents regardless of immigration status, including undocumented adults through state funding. Washington's Medicaid managed care model includes Apple Health for Kids, Apple Health for Adults, and specialized programs for foster youth and individuals with disabilities. The state has been at the forefront of behavioral health integration within its Medicaid programs. Washington Healthplanfinder's Cascade Care initiative continues to be developed with an eye toward broader premium relief.