Apple Health – Next Steps

Apple Health is the name for Medicaid in Washington. Apple Health is free or low-cost health insurance coverage for those who qualify. Covered services include primary care, emergency visits, maternity services, pediatric care, dental services, vision care, prescription medications and more.  Apple Health is available year-round. You can apply for Apple Health at any time.

Apple Health is available to those under a certain income level. You must also be a citizen or legal resident of five years under the age of 65. You can find all of the eligibility requirements on Washington Health Care Authority's website.

The Washington Health Care Authority has started reaching out to people who are losing their coverage to notify them of their options. Letters will be sent asking recipients to get in touch to find out if they still qualify for Medicaid, also known as Apple Health in Washington state.

With the Public Health Emergency ending May 11, 2023, and Washington state’s recent redetermination, you may not qualify for Apple Health. If you no longer qualify, you can still get other types of plans and savings with LifeWise of Washington. CascadeCare plans offer more coverage and savings than most plans we offer. Cascade Care plans are designed by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to provide the benefits you need while keeping your out-of-pocket costs down.

Yes, special enrollment periods allow individuals and families to buy health insurance outside of open enrollment. If you recently became ineligible for Apple Health or Medicaid due to a redetermination, you likely qualify for the SEP period.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a federal agency, determined COVID-19 to be a public health emergency (PHE) starting in January 2020. HHS indicated the PHE would end on May 11, 2023. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act(FFCRA) allowed most Apple Health clients to continue receiving Apple Health coverage for the duration of the PHE, also known as “continuous enrollment.”

Certain eligibility and verification factors were also relaxed. Apple Health no longer terminated clients who failed to renew or complete an eligibility review. If a client’s eligibility is terminated for any other reason, HCA and DSHS reopened coverage,unless the client passed away or moved out of state. New changes In December 2022, Congress signed into law the Consolidated Appropriation Act, of 2023, which separates the continuous enrollment requirement from the PHE. This requires Washington stateto begin redeterminations on 04/01/2023, even if the PHE continues.

In WA state, beginning 4/01/2023, WA state staff will begin requesting verification of income, resources and other eligibility factors, unless staff can verify through electronic data sources. Some terminations resume on 4/30/2023, but more likely on 5/31/2023.

LifeWise is part of a family of health plans with deep roots in Washington state. We care for more than 2.2 million people. We also have an A credit rating, so you know you can trust us with your financial investment in your health.

We are committed to caring for communities in Washington state and providing more access to affordable healthcare. We deliver low-cost options, virtual care so you can get the care you need without leaving your home, and access to primary care, urgent care, mental health therapy and substance use disorder treatment from wherever you feel the safest and most comfortable.

Choosing the right health plan for you and your family can be a challenging experience, especially when you don’t have an employer kicking in for the monthly premium payments or a human resources team to answer your questions. At LifeWise, you’ll have us on your team. Our goal is to give you the confidence and certainty you need to make the right healthcare decisions.

LifeWise offers Cascade Care plans across most of Washington state. Cascade Care aims to increase the availability of quality, affordable health coverage in the individual market, and ensure residents in every Washington county have a choice of a qualified health plan. Cascade Care plans offer more coverage and ways to save than non-Cascade Care plans. They are available through Washington Healthplanfinder.

Cascade Care Select offers a new way to save on premiums. LifeWise offers Cascade Care Select in 19 counties, including Adams, Benton, Chelan, Clark, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Island, Klickitat, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Spokane,Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Yakima. These plans are designed by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. Many services are covered at a flat-dollar co-pay, making these plans a good choice if you want to know upfront what you will pay for a service.

Yes. Kinwell Clinics are located across Washington state and are exclusively available to LifeWise, and Premera Blue Cross members. Kinwell offers primary care, virtual care, and behavioral health. To find a clinic location near you, please visit: Clinic Locations | Kinwell Health.

Support is easy to find online and over the phone through LifeWise of Washington at: 800-817-3056. Our customer service representatives are available between 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. Our knowledgeableteam can help answer questions and explore your plan options.

You can also reach out to Washington Healthplanfinder at: 855-923-4633 or www.wahealthplanfinder.org . They have enrollment partners statewide ready to assistyou.