Health Benefit Exchange Board, Washington

Certifies qualified health plans that may offer products including Medicaid eligibility, and verifies income and citizenship status, ensures the benefit packages offered include the essential health benefits and are available at four benefit values - 60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, and 90 percent Also operates a toll-free hotline and a consumer portal that allows comparison shopping and premium calculation and adjudicating appeals. WHBE also creates the Washington Healthplanfinder, an easily accessible, online marketplace for individuals. The Board provides expertise in variety of health care areas including individual coverage, small employer coverage, plan administration, finance and economics and actuarial science.
Board Websitehttps://www.wahbexchange.org/about-the-exchange/exchange-board/board-members/
Policy AreaHealth
Governor Appointments9
Total Board Positions11
Statutory AuthorityRCW 43.71.020
Public Disclosure Required?No
Senate Confirmation Required?No
CompensationTravel reimbursement
Term Length (years)2
Statutory Term LimitsMembers of the board may be reappointed to multiple terms.
Member Requirements: The Governor must appoint two members from each list submitted by the four caucuses of the House and Senate, including at least one employee benefits specialist, one health economist or actuary, one representative of small business, and one representative of health consumer advocates . The remaining five appointees must have demonstrated and acknowledged expertise in at least one of the following areas: Individual health care coverage, small employer health care coverage, health benefits plan administration, health care finance and economics, actuarial science, or administering a public or private health care delivery system. The governor shall appoint a ninth member to serve as chair. The chair may not be an employee of the state or its political subdivisions. The chair shall serve as a nonvoting member except in the case of a tie.

When making appointments to the HBE please review the Attorney General's opinion on the appointment process to clarify ambiguity in the statute. The opinion is located in the attachment tab of this board page and also in the Boards & Commissions folder on the G Drive for the Governor's Office.