To resolve any issues relating to you Medicaid coverage you may call 1-855-623-9357. This is a hotline that will tell you if your insurance has been suspended or if it is active. You will need a DSHS client ID number of your Provider One number in order to use this phone number.
First off to apply for health care coverage during open enrollment you should go to Washington Health Plan Finder. This web page will help you shop for insurance plans offered within the state of Washington. The Washington Health Insurance Exchange will help you shop for plans outside of Washington state. Between these two web pages you should be able to find the best price on insurance. Washington Health Plan Finder will automatically sign you up for state medicaid if you qualify. Medicaid is now called Apple Health in Washington State. To apply for Healthcare in person please fill out the Health Care Coverage App.
In Washington state individuals who make 15,000 - 46,000 a year, couples who make 20,000 - 62,000, and a family of four who make 31,000 - 94,000 may qualify for a tax credit subsidy from the federal government to help pay a monthly insurance premium. Other factors such as your age, where you live, and if you are a smoker will also effect how much if any of a tax credit subsidy you will qualify for.
In the state of Washington the income limit to qualify for Medicaid has been raised to 15,856 for an individual. If you make less this this amount then you will likely not have to pay an insurance premium, but you will still have to select an insurance coverage plan through Washington's health insurance exchange system. When applying for health insurance through Washington Health Benefit Exchange you will be asked questions to determine if you qualify for Medicaid and if you do then you will automatically be directed to the benefit exchange for people on Medicaid. For more information about how Washington state determines eligibility for medicaid check out the MAGI Info.
There are strict enrollment periods for coverage. It is true that insurance companies must sell you insurance regardless of any pre-exishing medical conditions you may have. This does not mean you can go without insurance and then enroll as soon as you have a medical need because you cannot enroll in health insurance once the open enrollment period has ended and if you enroll in a plan then your coverage will not start until the first day of the next calendar month provided that you enroll by the 21st of the current month. The next open enrollment period will be from November 15th 2014 to February 15th 2015.
There are some situations where you will be able to enroll in coverage outside of the open enrollment period. These circumstances may include: 1) if you suddenly qualify for or are renewing Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) Coverage, 2) American Indians/Alaska Natives who are members of a federally-recognized Tribe or Alaska Native Corporation, or 3) Certain life events such as getting married or divorced, having a child, moving to a new area or losing health coverage.
It is your right not purchase health insurance. The law states that the emergency room must provide you with a certain level of care whether you can pay for it or not. For people who refuse to buy health insurance you put yourself at risk of having a medical conditions that requires treatment you cannot afford. Because the money to pay for your free care in the emergency room comes from the rest of society in the form of higher taxes and higher insurance premiums; the non-insured citizen is a burden to all who pay taxes and have health insurance.
If you choose not to have health insurance for calendar year of 2014 then you will pay an additional 1% income tax to differ the potential cost of providing you free care in the emergency room. You are exempt from paying this additional tax if you make less then 9,500 dollars a year, are in prison or jail, if your yearly premiums would cost more then 9.5% of your income, or if you are a member of an indian tribe. There are certain other circumstances that may exempt you from having to pay this additional income tax.
There is much more to be learned about how Affordable Healthcare Act is being implemented in Washington state. Please take some time to go to Health Insurance Team Education Center to learn more about how this new law affects the healthcare delivery system in Washington.
DSHS App - This is one master application for all of the services provided though the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services. Complete this application if you intend to apply for cash, medial, assisted living facility/adult family home, hospice, healthcare for workers with disabilities, food stamps, drug alcohol treatment, medicare savings program, nursing home care, or psychiatric indigent inpatient. Once you complete this application you certify that you will submit any changes to your circumstances that would affect your benefits within 14 days. To do this you should be able to go online to submit change of circumstance or you can fill out and submit the DSHS Change of Circumstances App.
Washington Healthplanfinder - This web page will be open on October 1st 2013 to enroll in healthcare plans though a healthcare exchange system. If you sign up for a healthcare plan on or before December 22nd then insurance though this web page will start January 1st 2014. More information about Washington State's health insurance exchange system to come soon. The call center should be open on Sep. 1st.
WaHeathplanfinder Sign Up Info - This pdf outlines how to apply for health insurance though through Washington Health Plan Finder.
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