We were required to report our findings and decision to the legislature by Dec. 31, 2023.

Defining Washington state’s EHB-benchmark health plan 

The Affordable Care Act requires certain benefits, items and services be covered by all individual and small employer health plans. These are called Essential Health Benefits. Each state must select its own “benchmark” health insurance plan and use it to determine its essential health benefits. Since 2020, Washington state’s EHB benchmark plan has been the Regence BlueShield Direct Gold+ small group health plan.

Beginning in 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gives states three options to define their EHB benchmark plan:

  • Option 1: Select another state’s entire EHB benchmark,  
  • Option 2: Replace a category of benefits in the current benchmark with the same category of benefits used in another state's EHB plan, or  
  • Option 3: Select a set of benefits to become part of your state's EHB plan. 

States that want to make changes are required by federal law to have an actuarial analysis of the benefits, a public comment on the proposed changes, and to apply to CMS.

New EHB benchmark plan implementation

Opportunity for public comment on the State's selection of an EHB-benchmark plan, per 45 CFR 156.111

2023 essential health benefits report and presentation

How to get involved

Public comments

Past meetings

Dec. 13, 2023

Oct. 20, 2023

Sept. 12, 2023 

June 12, 2023 

State and federal EHB information 

Washington state:

Federal: