Apple Health Expansion

Learn about the Health Care Authority's (HCA) plan for Apple Health Expansion.

Apple Health Expansion enrollment update

You can apply for Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage year-round.

Apple Health Expansion is one of the few Apple Health programs with limited enrollment.

The enrollment limit for Apple Health Expansion has been met. If you have not applied, you can still complete your application for Apple Health Expansion to be considered if space opens in the program.

If you applied for coverage and were denied because the cap was met, there are no additional steps you need to take. There is still a possibility you may be randomly selected to enroll if space opens in the program. You will receive an eligibility notice if you are selected for enrollment.

View the enrollment announcement for regular updates. Send questions about what this means for you and your family, and what to expect over the coming months to the Apple Health Expansion inbox.

Looking for resources to share with your potential clients?

Share the Apple Health Expansion client webpage with individuals interested in applying for or learning about Apple Health Expansion. This webpage has information on eligibility, covered services, and how to apply along with resources in 15 languages.

What is Apple Health Expansion?

At the direction of the legislature, Health Care Authority (HCA) will expand health care coverage to more people. In 2022, the Legislature provided funding to HCA to explore what system and procedure changes would be needed to facilitate expansion. Learn more about Apple Health Expansion for adults with certain immigration statuses by viewing the client FAQ and provider FAQ.

Due to a limited budget, HCA needs to manage the number of people who can enroll into the program to ensure clients receive the highest value care possible. View the enrollment cap announcement to learn more.

Update to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients and other people with qualifying immigration statuses

Due to a recent federal change, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other people with qualifying immigration statuses can now access increased federal savings through Washington Healthplanfinder as of November 1, 2024.

These individuals are no longer eligible for Apple Health Expansion because they now qualify for qualified health plan (QHP) with tax credits. Currently enrolled Apple Health Expansion clients who are affected by this change will not transition to a QHP unless they update their application or no longer qualify for other eligibility reasons.

This change does not affect other Apple Health (Medicaid) programs.

Read answers to frequently asked questions to learn more.

Who will be eligible?

Clients may be eligible if they:

Are a Washington resident age 19 or older,
Have countable income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level,
Do not qualify for other Apple Health programs based on immigration status,
- Immigrants who have not met the five-year waiting period to become eligible for Apple Health are not eligible for Apple Health Expansion.
Are not pregnant or did not have a pregnancy end in the last 12 months, and
Are not eligible for qualified health plans with advance premium tax credits (APTC), federally funded medical assistance programs.

What is the most a client can make per month to qualify?

Program	Single person	2-person household	3-person household	4-person household	5-person household	6-person household	7-person household
Apple Health Expansion for Adults (age 19 and older)	$1,732 monthly	$2,351 monthly	$2,969 monthly	$3,588 monthly	$4,207 monthly	$4,825 monthly	$5,444 monthly

*The income standards listed in these examples are subject to change annually every April.

View eligibility and income charts for other Apple Health programs.

What happens if someone applies for coverage now that the enrollment limit is met?

If someone has not applied, they can still complete their application for Apple Health Expansion to be considered if space opens in the program. Sign up for email notifications and stay up to date. Individuals will receive an eligibility notice if they are selected for enrollment through their preferred communication method (email or mail).

What services are covered?

Apple Health Expansion will cover the following services:

Physical and behavioral health services
Dental services
Vision hardware (for clients under 21 years of age)
Transportation to Apple Health covered appointments
Pharmacy (Over the counter and prescription drugs on the Apple Health preferred drug list)
Interpreter Services
- Contact your health plan for help accessing interpreter services.
  - Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW): 1-800-440-1561 (TRS: 711)
  - Coordinated Care (CC): 1-877-644-4613 (TRS: 711)
  - Molina Healthcare of Washington (MHW): 1-800-869-7165 (TRS: 711)
  - UnitedHealthcare Community Plan (UHC): 1-877-542-8997 (TRS: 711)

View a full list of services covered by Apple Health.

What other health care coverage is available for immigrants?

Other Apple Health coverage

If you need to go to the doctor now, you can check to see if you qualify for:

Qualified Health Plans and Cascade Care Savings options for immigrants

All Washingtonians, regardless of immigration status, now have the opportunity to shop for and purchase qualified health and dental plans. Learn more about immigrant health care and other cost saving options.

Qualified Health Plan with tax credits: Open enrollment is November 1, 2024 - January 15, 2025. Enroll by December 15 for coverage to begin by January 1, 2025, or January 15 for coverage to begin February 1, 2025. Health plans that meet quality, cost, and access standards under the Affordable Care Act. All plans available on Washington Healthplanfinder meet these standards.
Cascade Care Savings: Due to federal restrictions, people without lawful presence will not be eligible for federal subsidies, but may be eligible for Cascade Care Savings, a state-funded subsidy available to all individuals and families in Washington who make 250% of the federal poverty level or less — $33,975 per year for a one-person household and $57,575 for a three-person household.
Special enrollment period: Some life events let you sign up for a health plan outside of open enrollment. This is called a special enrollment period. Life events can include job loss, birth, adoption, marriage and more.

Outreach

HCA is coordinating outreach with stakeholders, community organizations, Health Benefit Exchange (HBE), and Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Community education and outreach campaigns will provide linguistically appropriate support to facilitate enrollment for Apple Health Expansion.

View community feedback on Apple Health Expansion short-term enrollment options

On August 26, 2024, HCA hosted a community feedback meeting to gather input on the short-term enrollment management policy for Apple Health Expansion.

View frequently asked questions (available in 9 languages).
View a summary of community feedback (available in 9 languages)

Read the enrollment announcement to stay informed about Apple Health Expansion enrollment updates.

Temporary Community Engagement Advisory Committee

The Temporary Community Engagement Advisory Committee is a collaboration between HCA, HBE, and DSHS that will help guide future work around the expansion of health care coverage for undocumented individuals.

Participating organizations and individuals with lived experience

Pacific Islander Health Alliance NW (PIHA-NW)
Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center
Here We Go!
Pierce County Project Access
Pan African Community Services
Latinos En Spokane
Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington
Northwest Health Law Advocates
Latino Community Fund (LCF)
Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation
Empower Next Generations
King County Promotores Network (KCPN)
Human Rights Protection and Global Peace
The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network
Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington
Center for MultiCultural Health

Webinars

Past webinars

Date	Time	Webinar topic	Details
Wednesday, November 29, 2023	4-5 p.m.	Overview of Apple Health Expansion eligibility, covered services, and other available programs.	View the webinar Presentation slides Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese FAQ Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese
Friday, February 2, 2024	2-3 p.m.	Information for community-based organizations to learn about qualified health plan transitions, applying through Washington Healthplanfinder, and application and enrollment details.	View the webinar Presentation slides Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese FAQ Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese
Monday, April 29, 2024	3-4 p.m.	Overview of Apple Health Expansion eligibility requirements and enrollment details (part 1).	View the webinar Presentation slides Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese
Thursday, May 23, 2024	3-4 p.m.	Overview of Apple Health Expansion eligibility requirements and enrollment details (part 2).	View the webinar English \| Corrections - 6/3/2024 Español - Spanish \| Corrections - 6/3/2024 Presentation slides Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese
Tuesday, June 25, 2024	11 a.m. to noon	Information for providers and community partners to learn about Apple Health Expansion including eligibility details, covered services, and interpreter services.	View the webinar Presentation slides English \| Español
Monday, August 26, 2024	8:30 - 10:30 a.m.	Community feedback meeting to gather input on the short-term enrollment management policy for Apple Health Expansion.	View the meeting Presentation slides Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese FAQ Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese Summary of feedback Amharic \| Arabic \| Cambodian \| Chinese \| Russian \| Español \| Tagalog \| Ukrainian \| Vietnamese

Toolkits

These toolkits are designed for community-based organizations, navigators, and other partners who assist uninsured populations to help spread the word about how to access and understand their services covered under Apple Health Expansion. You can reuse content shared in these toolkits or use it to guide your own.

Communications toolkit

This toolkit provides an overview of key messages, letter examples, and client resources. View the Apple Health Expansion communications toolkit.

Social media toolkit

This toolkit lays out social media messaging to help clients prepare to apply for Apple Health Expansion. View the Apple Health Expansion social media toolkit and download the images from the social media toolkit (translations available in 15 languages).

Need more information?

View the Apple Health Expansion stakeholder fact sheet (available in 15 languages).
View the Apple Health Expansion flyer (available in 15 languages).

Privacy data

Apple Health Expansion will use existing Apple Health program data privacy and protection standards to ensure clients’ identity and information remain confidential. View HCA's notice of privacy practices for more information.

Next steps

HCA is preparing the managed care contract and will begin negotiations with all five Apple Health managed care plans in late-2023.
HCA is requesting supplemental funding for Apple Health Expansion in the 2024 legislative session.