Refineries, the waterfront and a local hospital district.
Anacortes' top employers include Island Health, the HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery, the Marathon Anacortes Refinery, the Anacortes School District and Dakota Creek Industries, according to a hospital profile published by the state Department of Health. Trident Seafoods and the city itself also appear on local lists.
Island Health is Skagit County Public Hospital District No. 2. Its hospital opened in 1962 and has added cancer care, behavioral health, surgery and a new emergency department over the years. It also manages the primary care clinic on Orcas Island.
For local contractors and marine businesses, the work is physical and the hiring competition comes from the refineries. Disability and accident coverage, a clear family contribution and a plan that includes Island Health are the pieces employees notice.
Three decisions for Anacortes employers.
Crews that grow and shrink
Maintenance work at the refineries brings crews that grow and shrink. Write the hours threshold, waiting period and rehire rules down so the plan holds up when headcount changes.
Income protection
Shipyard, refinery and marine work carries real injury risk. Short-term disability and accident coverage pay cash during time off, which matters more to most crews than a lower deductible.
Specialists off the island
Some specialty care means a trip to Mount Vernon, Bellingham or Seattle. Check how each plan handles referrals and out-of-area care, not only the local hospital.
Start with Island Health, then check the mainland.
Care in Anacortes
Island Health runs the hospital and clinics on Fidalgo Island, and Family Care Network also has an Anacortes clinic. These examples establish locations, not plan participation. Confirm the exact clinic and clinician in each network.
Care on the mainland
Employees who live in Burlington or Mount Vernon may use Skagit Regional Health or PeaceHealth United General in Sedro-Woolley. Ask where people go, then check those providers.
What Anacortes employers ask.
Some of our staff live on the San Juans. Do they need a different plan?
No, but check that the plan includes the island clinics they use. San Juan, Skagit and Island counties share a rating area, and network coverage still varies by carrier.
Should we add disability before a richer medical plan?
For a physical workforce it is often the better first dollar. Short-term disability costs a fraction of buying down a deductible and replaces income when someone cannot work.
What do you need to quote?
Your business address, target start date, any current plan and renewal, and where employees live. Then the employee census.
The full package, locally.
Employee Benefits
Group medical, dental, vision, life and disability, level-funded and voluntary coverage.
Explore benefits →Business Services
COBRA, ACA compliance and pre-tax accounts, plus an enrollment platform at no added cost from us. Administrator fees may apply.
Explore services →Life Insurance
Term, whole life, final expense and key person coverage for owners and partners.
Explore life →Other areas we serve nearby.
Bellingham
Whatcom County employers checking care near home, specialists and changing work schedules.
See Bellingham →Ferndale
Cherry Point contractors and north Whatcom employers with crews that change size.
See Ferndale →Whidbey Island
Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley, with Navy households and island care.
See Whidbey Island →San Juan Islands
Friday Harbor, Orcas and Lopez, where specialist care usually means a ferry.
See San Juan Islands →Stanwood & Camano
Two counties, one community, with care split between Skagit and Everett systems.
See Stanwood & Camano →All Washington areas
Every city we serve, plus the small group rating area for each county.
See all areas →Quote your Anacortes group.
Send a census. We will confirm Island Health in network and show disability costs next to the medical.