Group Health Announces 20 to 80 Percent Cuts in Member-Paid Share for Its Plan Under Washington Basic Health

SEATTLE, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Group Health Cooperative today announced cuts of 20 to 80 percent in the monthly premiums paid by low-income residents for Group Health coverage within the state-subsidized Basic Health program in 2007.

Beginning January 1st, Group Health will be available to Basic Health enrollees at the state’s lowest (benchmark) level in all five counties where Group Health is offered, including King, Kitsap, Snohomish, Spokane, and Thurston counties. Depending on age and income, an enrollee’s payment for Group Health coverage will range from $17.00 to $214.84 per month.

Basic Health, created by the state legislature in 1989, subsidizes the remaining portion of the cost of coverage for more than 100,000 qualified, low-income Washington residents.

“Group Health is proud to have been the very first organization to sign a contract with Washington’s Basic Health program,” said Scott Armstrong, president and CEO of Group Health. “These important rate cuts reflect our continuing commitment to providing the highest quality of care to our fellow Washingtonians least able to afford it,” Armstrong added.

Basic Health enrollees will now be able to choose Group Health for their coverage with the assurance they’ll pay no more for outstanding care and unsurpassed benefits than they would pay for any other plan offered under Basic Health.

“Our emphasis on containing costs by increasing quality of care, scientific discipline, wise investments in leading-edge technology, and our financially conservative, fiscally sound position makes this a good decision for all our members,” said Armstrong.

The new rates will apply not only to current Group Health members under Basic Health, but to those who choose Group Health during the upcoming Basic Health “open enrollment” period, October 9th through November 3rd and for new enrollees through 2007.

Group Health Cooperative

Founded in 1947, Group Health is a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that coordinates care and coverage. Based in Seattle, Group Health and its subsidiary health carriers, Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, serve more than 568,000 members in Washington and Idaho. Group Health’s commercial and Medicare plans have received the top rating of “Excellent” from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Group Health encompasses medical and specialty centers, hospitals (including a full service community hospital), a nationally recognized research center, and a charitable foundation. Group Health and Group Health Permanente (its multispecialty medical group practice) combined employ more than 9,000 staff.

Group Health Cooperative

CONTACT: Katie McCarthy of Group Health Cooperative, +1-206-448-2149

Web site: http://www.ghc.org/