The Washington State Health Care Authority will open applications for its Apple Health Expansion program at 8 a.m. Thursday, June 20.
The new initiative is designed to secure coverage for undocumented immigrants. Eligibility stands if the client is 19 years old or older, has a countable income under 138% of the federal poverty level (less than $20,000 a year), is not pregnant, is unable to enroll in a qualified health plan and does not qualify for other programs based on their immigration status.
Federal law requires that qualified non-citizens meet a five-year waiting period to enroll in Medicaid, leaving a lot of immigrants unable to qualify in general.
Sasha Wasserstrom, policy director of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), said the program is a result of their Health Equity for Immigrants campaign, which has worked to secure health access for immigrants and refugees in the state the past five years.
“This would be the first year that our most vulnerable individuals will be able to access a Medicaid equivalent,” Wasserstrom said. “This is one of the first major steps towards undocumented folks being able to access the care that they need, regardless of whether they are in dire straits or not.”
The expansion program is a result of the coalition securing an initial round of $71 million in funding after the 2023 legislative session. After applications close, the program will go into effect on Monday, July 1.
Coverage includes dental care, transportation to Apple Health-covered appointments and interpreter services. A full list can be viewed at the Washington State Health Care Authority website.
The funding level will limit the number of enrollees to 13,000.
“That will be the case at least until there is more funding,” they said.
Any spots to open after the enrollment period will use a random selection process to fill, and the enrollment period is expected to open for no more than 48 hours because “the need is so high,” Wasserstrom said.
“We expect this program to open and close quite quickly,” they said.
WAISN has a rapid response hotline to help with registration. The organization does not help with application assistance, Wasserstrom said, but will direct potential clients to other resources.
Outside of the new expansion program, state subsidies for Cascade Care opened to immigrants and refugees earlier this year. Surveying undocumented populations to understand the need for coverage can can be difficult, Wasserstrom said.
“A lot of immigrants have sought out health care through alternative means … this is such an important step to having our immigrant community members be able to be healthy,” they said.
Olivia Capriotti is a Dow Jones summer news intern, specializing in data journalism. Reach her at oliviacapriotti@cascadiadaily.com.
