Choosing Health Insurance During Open Enrollment

We all understand why it’s important to have health insurance. But with so many options to choose from during open enrollment, finding the right coverage for you or your family isn’t always easy.

At UW Medicine, we know you want a health insurance plan that checks all the boxes. Ideally, your health insurance will:

  • Cover planned and unplanned medical expenses with out-of-pocket costs you can afford.
  • Let you see doctors (and use facilities) that provide excellent care.  

By choosing a plan that is accepted by UW Medicine, you’ll have access to UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center and clinics; Valley Medical Center and clinics; and UW Medicine Primary & Urgent Care.

Fred Hutch Cancer Center is an independent organization that serves as UW Medicine’s cancer care program. Fred Hutch may accept some different insurance plans than UW Medicine.

To verify your insurance coverage with UW Medicine, visit the billing and insurance page »

For information about insurance coverage accepted by Fred Hutch Cancer Center, please visit Fred Hutch »

Insurance carriers with access to UW Medicine

Important: Insurance coverage varies among individual insurers and policies. Please call your insurance company before you choose a health plan to understand what they will pay, which providers and hospitals are in-network and what you will need to pay out-of-pocket.

When and how to change your health coverage

In most cases, you can only make changes to your insurance during an annual open enrollment period, which varies for employers throughout the year. You can make changes outside of open enrollment if you have a qualifying life event or special circumstance, such as marriage or birth.

Image of man with tablet

 

Understanding your health insurance options

Get the facts about medical insurance and learn how to find a plan that provides the coverage you need.

Image of woman and provider

 

5 important questions to ask

When choosing or making changes to your health coverage, ask yourself these questions.

Why choose UW Medicine as your healthcare provider

Just like having health insurance can provide peace of mind, so can having the right healthcare partner. You want to feel confident that you’ll receive exceptional care if you or a covered family member becomes ill or injured.

Patients and referring physicians often tell us they trust UW Medicine to provide safe, high-quality and innovative care. So, whether it’s time for your annual checkup or you want to find an experienced spine surgeon, you can count on us for all your medical needs.

 

Image of family

Primary care for the whole family

Our primary care team includes hundreds of pediatricians, family medicine doctors, internal medicine doctors and geriatric specialists.

GET ON-DEMAND VIRTUAL PRIMARY CARE FIND AN URGENT CARE NEAR YOU
Image of women walking in the woods

Specialty care for every age and life stage

UW Medicine offers all the specialty care you could possibly need, from dermatology and diabetes care to orthopedics and organ transplantation.

Search by keyword, specialty and more
Image of emergency care

Expert emergency care when you need it most

No one plans to have a medical emergency. But when the unexpected happens, UW Medicine is ready to respond.

Find emergency services Learn about air medical transport

The UW Medicine difference

There are many excellent hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. And there are equally outstanding doctors, nurses and caregivers devoted to your health and well-being.

But when you consider what’s most important in a healthcare system, only UW Medicine brings you the highest quality care.

We’re connected to the region’s leading medical school.

As the only health system in Washington affiliated with a university and medical school, we’re teaching and training the next generation of medical experts. And studies show that patients who receive care at teaching hospitals like UW Medicine have better outcomes.

We’re a leader in innovative research.

The University of Washington School of Medicine ranks No. 2 in the nation in federal research funding. This funding lets our doctors and other professionals conduct clinical and scientific research to pave the way for new discoveries and safer, more effective treatments. And our patients have access to clinical trials that let them benefit from promising new therapies before they’re widely available.

Our care is nationally recognized.

We’re often named leaders in healthcare quality and safety by independent, third-party organizations that track industry outcomes. In 2024-2025, U.S. News & World Report again named UW Medical Center the top hospital in Washington. See all of our awards at Awards & Honors.

CSS Adjustments