Washington Individual Market: What Open Enrollment 13 Tells Us
Open Enrollment 13 is behind us—and it was one of the most disruptive enrollment periods since the early days of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With major policy changes and shifting affordability dynamics, the Washington individual market continues to evolve.
Our partners at Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WAHBE) share reporting on the individual market throughout the year. Here’s a look at what stood out in their recently published 2026 Open Enrollment Preview Report, and what it may signal for the road ahead in Washington.
Market contraction was real, but less than expected
The Washington individual market contracted by 6%, ending open enrollment with approximately 290,000 members. Although about 19,000 customers were lost, this number fell well below early projections, which estimated losses could reach 80,000 following the expiration of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) subsidy boost at the end of 2025.
State‑specific subsidy enhancing rules like Premium Alignment (read our uniform silver loading story) and Cascade Savings, helped soften the impact. Both policies were designed to stabilize premiums and preserve consumer value, ultimately enhancing federal subsidies for eligible consumers and changing how members shopped for coverage.
“When we look at Open Enrollment 13, the biggest takeaway is resilience,” said Justin Cusber, Individual Business Manager. “This year wasn’t easy, but Washington’s affordability programs helped people stay covered.”
Cascade plans continue to dominate
Customers consistently choose the lowest cost plans with the richest benefits. Ninety percent of all individual customers are enrolled in a Cascade plan, showing the market remains highly price-sensitive.
Cascade Select growth was especially noteworthy. It now represents 40% of the total market, up from 30% just last year. With continued affordability pressures, the demand for low‑premium options is expected to remain strong.
Gold plans overtake Silver
Gold plans have overtaken Silver as the most popular option for customers.
“One of the most significant shifts this year was at the metal level,” said Cusber. “Now 52% of the market is on a Gold plan, while only 17% is on Silver. This change reflects how Premium Alignment reshaped plan value.”
Silver coverage delivers its greatest benefit primarily to members eligible for Cost Share Reduction (CSR) 2 and 3 plans. (People with incomes between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level make up about one‑third of the market, and CSR 2 and 3 plans are designed for this group.) Thus, Gold plans made better financial sense for a broader range of customers, even some eligible for CSR 2 plans.
Growth is concentrated to the Public Option
Enrollment growth continued to favor Public Option plans, especially the two lowest-cost options in most counties: Coordinated Care and Community Health Plan of Washington. More than half of the Exchange members are enrolled with these plans.
This marks the third consecutive year of meaningful growth for these health plans, while enrollment for others has remained relatively flat.
Looking ahead to Open Enrollment 14
Health plans will submit 2027 plan filings in May. When the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announces the filings, we’ll know more about pricing, county offerings, and competitive dynamics heading into open enrollment.
“The decisions health plans are making now will shape the next open enrollment,” Cusber said. “We’ll continue to monitor the market closely and share updates this summer as new information becomes available.”
Note: WAHBE’s Spring Report will include additional analysis. The final numbers in that report may differ slightly from the statistics in this article.