Affordable Care Act/Medicaid Expansion enrollment starts Tuesday 10/1

If you or someone you know need affordable health insurance:  starting Tuesday October 1st, enrollment will begin for the Affordable Care Act for coverage that will begin on January 1st. If you are between age 19 and 65 years old and living on a low-income you will probably qualify for free health insurance through the expansion of Medicaid which will be called Washington Apple Health. 

The Affordable Care Act will also ensure that: No one will be denied coverage because they are sick or because they have a pre-existing condition. No one can be charged out of pocket costs for preventative services. Young adults can stay on their parents plan until age 26.  Most people will be required to have health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child.

Free or low cost coverage is available. You may qualify for free coverage, or for tax credits or financial help to pay for copays and premiums.  Washington residents will have a new way to find, compare and enroll in health insurance called Washington Healthplanfinder.

Free healthcare will be available for adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, through an expansion of Medicaid eligibility limits, called Washington Apple Health.   For a single person you will qualify for free health insurance if your monthly income is below:
-$1,321 a month: single person
-$1,783 a month: family of 2
-$2,246 a month: family of 3
-$2,708 a month: family of 4 
-$3,171 a month: family of 5
-$3,633 a month: family of 6
-$4,095 a month: family of 7
-$4,557 a month: family of 8

If your income is above the eligibility caps for Washington Apple Health but below $3,830 a month for a single individual, you can get help paying your premium called a tax credit. And if your income is below $2394 a month you could get help with your cost-sharing.

If you already have medical through a DSHS program, watch for notices in the mail from Washington Health Care Authority about how to keep your benefits. SSI, ABD, MCS and ADATSA recipients will be automatically enrolled in the Medicaid expansion-Washington Apple Health. TANF recipients will not be automatically enrolled in Washington Apple Health and will need to renew their healthcare coverage through Washington Health Plan finder.  Basic Health recipients will not be automatically enrolled and will receive a notice from the health care authority explaining how to get healthcare through Washington Health Plan finder.

There are many different ways to enroll.  You can enroll on-line at Washington Healthplanfinder. There will be in person assistors/navigators from various community organizations near where you live who will be available to help you enroll in person.   King County and partner organizations will host enrollment events in your community where you can get help enrolling in Washington Healthplanfinder. To find an in person assistor in your community, visit www.kingcounty.gov/coverage or request enrollment assistance online. If you have any questions or need assistance, call the Customer Support Center at 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633). Support technicians will be able to answer your questions about health coverage options, how to access financial help and what you need to know about the enrollment process. Call center business hours will be 7:30 am – 8:00 pm Monday through Friday. Help will be available in up to 175 different languages.

Stay healthy!