The Washington Health Benefit Exchange has announced customer experience enhancements to Washington Healthplanfinder that are set to debut as the fourth open enrollment period began Nov. 1.

Chief among the additions is the introduction of Qualified Dental Plan offerings for those purchasing a Qualified Health Plan. Washington Healthplanfinder customers are now able to sort, filter, and compare 12 dental plans offered by three insurers on the way to signing up for coverage. All customers eligible to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan are eligible to add a Qualified Dental Plan to their coverage.

Washington Healthplanfinder has also introduced a new shopping cart feature that allows customers to save their plan selections as they navigate between health and dental plan shopping. As they compare their options, customers can now also utilize an all-new Quality Rating System to better evaluate plans. Based on federal standards of quality, health plans are assigned a rating – 1 star (lowest rated) to 5 stars (highest rated) – that can be used to determine which coverage options to select.

NEW OPTIONS

Additional improvements to Washington Healthplanfinder include:

Shopping Tips: Customers shopping online now receive alerts with educational tips on comparing plans and reducing costs. The illustrated online pop-ups provide easy-to-understand explanations for both health and dental coverage options.

Going Paperless: As part of the Exchange’s efforts to reduce paper consumption, customers now have the option of having their account information delivered straight to their email inbox. The transition to paperless correspondence enables customers to get their notifications faster while lessening environmental stress and lowering cost associated with mailing correspondences.

Electronic Alerts: Customers are able to sign up to receive news and updates related to their health insurance coverage and important dates. These email alerts are to be sent regularly and include blog posts, sign-up event locations, and other updates related to getting the most out of health and dental plans.

Customers signing up for coverage can access a variety of one-on-one assistance options during open enrollment, including at the state’s first full-service enrollment centers debuting on Nov. 1. Located in Spokane and Vancouver, the two health insurance storefronts can connect residents with resources and in-person help as they go through the application process.

The pair of full-service enrollment sites supplement in-person assistance provided by the Exchange’s network of trained navigators and brokers located throughout the state. Individuals and families can find navigators or brokers in their area by clicking the “Customer Support” link on

wahealthplanfinder.org.

The Exchange’s Customer Support Center is also prepared to provide answers to questions related to enrollment. Customers needing assistance can call the Customer Support Center every weekday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633). Customer resources available anytime can be accessed at

knowyourplan.org and

wahbexchange.org.