Welcome to The Newsfeed.

This month, open enrollment for health insurance started, and Washingtonians are considering their coverage for next year.

This week, we're talking about changes in federal policy that can make insurance unaffordable or inaccessible for many.

Multimedia journalist Venice Buhain spoke with policymakers and business owners and others who are dealing with these changes.

VO: In the past few years, federal changes have made big impacts to health coverage accessibility in Washington state: The cuts to Medicaid, which provides health care coverage for about 1.5 million adults and children in Washington state, and the continued impact of the loss of tax credits for people who purchase insurance through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

Recently, Senator Patty Murray held a press conference to address these changes.

MURRAY: We've been knowing that's coming.

I've been talking to doctors and providers and health care clinics and hospitals all over our state about what that was going to mean for them.

And now we are going to see the impact on people's health insurance when they pay for that.

VO: On top of the loss of tax credits for marketplace health insurance, premiums are also rising, with an average increase of 22%.

KUDERER: Nearly 280,000 people buy health coverage here if they don't get insurance through their employer.

And most do so through our own state-based exchange.

And today, many people are feeling sticker shock of the increased premiums.

VO: Murray added that addressing health care costs would be one priority for Democrats in Congress.

MURRAY : We have got to reinstate the ACA tax credits.

We need to work really hard to undo the damage of the Medicaid cuts and at some point work towards universal coverage.

VO: For Cascade PBS, this is Venice Buhain.

JACKSON: Next time we'll talk about how these changes could affect both patients and health care providers in Washington state.

I'm Paris Jackson.

Thanks for watching The Newsfeed.