Profile: Ann

On the Brink: How Premium Assistance Keeps Health Care Within Reach

For thousands of Washingtonians, the loss of health coverage is no longer a distant possibility—it is happening now. As cuts to Affordable Care Act benefits take effect, individuals who have worked hard to stay insured are being pushed out of the system. For Ann, a 64-year-old woman living in South King County, Project Access Northwest’s Premium Assistance Program has been the difference between maintaining care and losing it altogether.

Ann relies on the individual insurance market for her health coverage. When she first enrolled in an ACA plan, her monthly premium was manageable. Over time, however, costs skyrocketed. The same plan that once cost under $200 per month has grown to more than $2,600 per month—an impossible burden on variable income.

Without help, Ann would have been forced to drop her coverage.

 

Critical support at just the right time

In 2024, she was referred to Project Access Northwest by an insurance representative who recognized how precarious her situation had become. Through the Premium Assistance Program, Project Access Northwest helped cover a portion of her monthly premiums, allowing her to remain insured during a period of escalating medical need and financial strain.

That support proved critical.

In 2024, Ann was rear-ended twice in separate car accidents. Without personal injury protection, her health insurance became her only path to care. Because she stayed insured, Ann was able to access primary care, specialty care, imaging, physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy—treatments essential to her recovery.

At the same time, Ann faced a possible cancer diagnosis. After being told she might have uterine cancer and pressured toward immediate surgery, she sought second and third opinions. Continuous coverage allowed her to access specialized imaging, genetic counseling, and expert care through the University of Washington—care that emphasized careful monitoring rather than irreversible intervention.

“Health care isn’t one appointment,” Ann shared. “It’s continuity. It’s having doctors who know you and can keep watching when things are uncertain.”

 

A growing crisis in Washington

Today, Ann’s story reflects a growing crisis across Washington state. As ACA subsidies are reduced or eliminated, tens of thousands of people are expected to lose coverage entirely. Others will remain underinsured—holding plans they cannot afford to keep or use.

Project Access Northwest’s Premium Assistance Program is a critical safeguard in this moment. By helping clients stay insured, the program preserves continuity of care, prevents medical debt, and reduces delays that lead to worse health outcomes.

“I can’t express my immense gratitude enough for Project Access Northwest,” Ann shared.

For Ann, premium assistance meant stability, dignity, and the ability to make informed decisions about her health. For thousands more facing the loss of coverage, it may be the last line of defense between care and crisis.