Health care fix allows consumers to make direct payments

SEATTLE – People having trouble using the insurance they purchased through the Washington health exchange because of billing problems can now pay their insurance company directly, thanks to an agreement worked out by the governor and the state insurance commissioner.

The major fix to problems plaguing the state’s answer to health care reform was announced Thursday. It will put Washington back on par with exchanges in other states, since most allow direct payment of insurance premiums.

For the past seven months, the health exchange has been trying to solve billing problems in the exchange, caused by a combination of software issues and human error.

Some people aren’t being properly credited by the exchange for their insurance payments. In some cases, money and information has been lost somewhere between the exchange and the insurance companies.

Officials at the exchange have estimated at least 6,000 accounts have been affected by the billing problems. They say thousands of accounts have been repaired each month but new problems keep popping up.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said the fix would be a temporary solution, but it will go into effect immediately.

“Everyone involved agreed that we needed to do everything possible to ensure consumers can access care if they need it,” Kreidler said. His office does not oversee the exchange but he has received hundreds of phone calls complaining about the billing problems.

The exchange will continue to work on resolving its technical issues so payments will be processed correctly through the exchange. Exchange CEO Richard Onizuka apologized to its customers in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“We cannot stress enough that resolving these system defects is the top priority for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange and our board,” Onizuka said. “The exchange has developed an aggressive action plan to address these issues as quickly as possible.”