Health Plan Seeking Subscribers Starting Jan. 1, Benefits In Washington’s Basic Health Plan Will Be Improved And Some Premiums Will Be Lowered

For Mike and Michelle Madonna, the Basic Health Plan was a blessing found after months of researching health insurance.

The Madonnas had been rejected three times by other insurance plans because of Mike’s asthma and high blood pressure.

The Basic Health Plan, which provides low-cost, state-subsidized health benefits to uninsured Washington residents, accepted the Madonnas.

Now, the plan is expanding and looking for more subscribers.

As of Jan. 1, the state is adding coverage for mental health, chemical dependency and organ transplants. And the program will cost less for low-income people.

“After I researched it, I found this is the best one,” said Michelle Madonna, whose premiums probably won’t change. “We’ve had to go to the emergency room only a couple of times, for swallowed marbles and stitches.”

That was for their children, of course.

Sunday afternoon, the Madonnas and their three children gathered with about 40 other adults and 20 children at the Spokane Arena to hear about Basic Health Plan improvements. Everyone folded up yellow paper airplanes and flung them in the air to launch the improved program.

Monthly premiums will be reduced for those families earning less than $2,525 a month and for single people who make less than $1,245.

People at the lowest income levels will pay no more than $10 a month per adult, with a family maximum of $20 per month. The cost used to be about $50 a month.

“We feel we can make Basic Health as affordable as can be,” said state Sen. John Moyer, R-Spokane, a retired doctor who helped draft health care laws.

About $346 million has been budgeted for 1995-1997 to pay for the plan.

The speeches by Moyer, health plan representatives and people on the plan were punctuated by popping balloons and the yells of children.

A corner of the room was a playroom for the kids, many insured through Basic Health. The children tied balloon animals and played with an adult-sized purple dinosaur.

The adults came for different reasons. Many already use the Basic Health Plan and wanted answers to their questions.

Ardyce Kahler wanted to know why the plan doesn’t cover people on Medicare. Kahler, 63, joined the Basic Health Plan a year ago. She worries about hitting age 65 and switching to Medicare, which doesn’t have as many benefits as Basic Health.

“I think it’s a great plan,” Kahler said. “It should be extended. If we’re going to get real sick, we’re going to have to get sick between now and 65.”

About 80,000 people are enrolled in Basic Health, operating since the beginning of 1989. The goal of the plan is to enroll 200,000 people by July 1997. About 500,000 residents are estimated to be without health insurance in Washington.

Michael Poff used to be one of them, along with his wife and seven children. He said the Basic Health Plan was a godsend, although it wasn’t easy to find.

“I’m glad for it all the time, especially for my kids,” Poff told the audience. “I thought it was a secret. It’s a well-kept secret - that’s what I called it.”

To enroll in the plan, call 1-800-826-2444.

, DataTimes