Welcome to your quarterly newsletter, with information, tips, and resources to help you stay healthy and get the most from your CHPW Individual & Family Plan. Our team is here to support you—every step of the way.
In this issue: |
Missed our previous newsletters? You can find them in our Be Well newsletter archive.
Open Enrollment for 2026 plan year: 3 things to know
1. New Gold Plan + benefit updates
Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026. This is your chance to enroll in, renew, or change your health insurance plan through Washington Healthplanfinder for 2026 coverage.
A new lower cost Gold-level plan called Vital Gold will be available alongside the current Gold plan, which will be renamed Complete Gold. Vital Gold may be more affordable than Silver plans for many people—due in part to changes in subsidy calculations. If you’re currently on a Silver Plan, see if you can save more by switching to Vital Gold.
Starting in 2026, enjoy $0 copays for Urgent Care telehealth visits through CHPW Virtual Care! That’s right, no out-of-pocket costs when you book an Urgent Care appointment via our Virtual Care service. (See below to learn about other improvements to CHPW Virtual Care.)
And don’t forget about our MemberFirst™ Rewards program, where you can earn gift cards for completing certain preventive care screenings.
2. Key dates and deadlines
If you’re currently enrolled in a CHPW plan, you should have received a letter detailing any updates in your coverage or premiums for 2026. To keep things simple, you’ll be automatically re-enrolled in the listed plan (either the same or a better plan) if you don’t make changes by December 15, 2025.
New CHPW members: You will receive an invoice for the first month’s premium amount. You must pay your first premium by the 23rd of the month to have coverage effective for the month.
Enroll by Dec. 15 ➜ Coverage starts Jan. 1, 2026
Enroll Dec. 16 – Jan. 15 ➜ Coverage starts Feb. 1, 2026
3. Subsidies and savings
Good news: Cascade Care Savings are back! If your income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), you may qualify for state subsidies on Gold or Silver plans that lower your monthly premium.
Not-so-good news: Federal enhanced premium tax credits that reduced the cost of many health plans are set to expire at the end of 2025. That means higher premiums for many plans in 2026.
Washington Healthplanfinder will calculate your estimated cost when you apply for a plan. Make sure your Healthplanfinder profile is up to date so you don’t miss out on any savings.
Questions about Open Enrollment? Our team is eager to help. Call us at 1-833-993-0181.
CHPW Virtual Care updates
CHPW Virtual Care has expanded its service offerings to include:
- Therapy
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology
CHPW Virtual Care powered by MDLive offers urgent care, therapy, psychiatry, and dermatology services from the comfort of your home.
Plus, you can access additional online services for mental and behavioral health care.
Explore all our telehealth services on our CHPW Virtual Care webpage.
Don’t forget to download the new and improved CHPW Virtual Care mobile app! You can find it on Google Play or the Apple Store.
New: All Urgent Care visits booked on CHPW Virtual Care will have $0 copay starting Jan. 1, 2026. Hard to beat that!
COVID and flu vaccines
It’s respiratory illness season again, when cooler weather brings a spike in viruses like COVID-19 and flu.
Thanks to a new rule from the Washington Department of Health, anyone 6 months and older can a COVID shot at a pharmacy or clinic—no prescription needed, regardless of federal guidelines.
Better yet, most insurance plans, including CHPW Individual & Family Cascade Select plans, cover the vaccine at no cost to you.
So don’t wait. Ask your provider or local pharmacy about getting your COVID-19 vaccine. And while you’re there, consider getting your annual flu shot too. Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and help prevent spreading illness to those around you.
Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy fall season!
Need help getting care, finding a doctor, or scheduling an appointment? Our Customer Service team can help with that. Call 1-866-907-1906 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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