Lauren Smith: Coronavirus updates: State moves into Phase 1B of vaccine plan
News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. 1/19/2021 Lauren Smith, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Jan. 19 This page includes coronavirus developments around Washington state for Tuesday, Jan. 19.
Inslee announces changes as vaccine distribution moves into Phase 1B
Updated 9 a.m.
Washington state has moved into the next phase COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The vaccine is now available to residents in Tier 1 of Phase 1B, which includes people 65 or older, people who are 50 or older and live in a multi-generational household (where individuals from two or more generations live) and people who were already eligible in Phase 1A, according to the state Department of Health. Phase 1A included health care workers, first responders and long-term care facility workers and residents.
OLYMPIA â Today, Dec. 15, is the deadline for signing up for health and dental insurance through the Washington Healthplanfinder exchange.
Signing up by Dec. 15 will ensure a starting date of Jan. 1, 2021, for the insurance, said the state exchange.
As of Dec. 10, more than 200,000 Washingtonians had signed up for 2021 coverage, 5 percent more than last year at the same time, or one person every 17 seconds. Among the 20,000 new customers, more than 40 percent have selected a new Cascade Care plan.
The new plans offer deductibles that are on average $1,000 less than other plans, and cover more services prior to meeting a deductible, including primary care visits, mental health services and generic drugs, said the state.