Lee said that the Exchange expects even more drops to occur once new H.R.1 requirements<\/a> take effect later in October and in the coming years. H.R.1, Congress\u2019s sweeping tax cut and federal savings package, will reduce federal health insurance tax credits for lawfully present immigrants and add new income verification processes for auto-renewals.<\/p>\n The Exchange estimated that the cumulative effect of federal changes could result in about one third to one half of all current<\/a> enrollees to lose access to affordable health insurance.<\/p>\n \u201cAs my grandma would say, it\u2019s penny wise, pound foolish,\u201d Lee said. She said the increase in premiums can lead people to delay preventative care and seek services once it\u2019s too late which will ultimately result in higher costs.<\/p>\n Lori Meyers, spokesperson for MultiCare, a locally governed nonprofit health system, told The News Tribune in an email that at this time, MultiCare has not seen a significant impact related to the reported decline in qualified health plan enrollment.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on a preliminary review of our patient population data, we have not identified substantive changes in the number of patients covered by marketplace health plans,\u201d Meyers said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur teams continue to review the data and monitor enrollment trends to better understand any potential changes over time,\u201d Meyers continued.<\/p>\n Patricia Dill, managing care supervisor for Community Health Care, a private nonprofit clinic system in Pierce County, told The News Tribune that they have already seen a decrease in the amount of people enrolled in qualified health plans. She said the clinic continues to prioritize continuity of care and offers sliding scale fees, payment plans, and referrals to other financial assistance programs to help mitigate high health care costs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very concerned, and it is very important to us to educate our community and have them know that we are here to support them,\u201d Dill said in a phone call.<\/p>\n Dill said Community Health Care offers health coverage support through their navigator team for the entire county not just for Community Health Care patients. Their navigator team can be reached online<\/a> or by calling (253) 722-2154 to schedule an Insurance Enrollment appointment. Residents can ask navigators questions about their coverage and find the best-fitting health insurance plan, including qualified health plans offered through the Exchange.<\/p>\n Lee said the Exchange also has statewide navigators, brokers, and other community partners in each county to provide enrollment support. Residents of Pierce County can work with Sea Mar Community Health Centers as well as FND Insurance & Financial Services LLC on their enrollment. For more information visit the Exchange\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n
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