How to get Apple Health or low-cost care in Washington

How Apple Health works in Washington

In Washington, Medicaid goes by the name Apple Health. Medicaid is a public program that pays for health care when your income is low. The Washington State Health Care Authority runs it. KFF, a health policy research group, reports that Washington expanded Medicaid on January 1, 2014.

The adult program, Apple Health for Adults, is open to people ages 19 through 64 who live in Washington and are not on Medicare. You also need to be a U.S. citizen or meet Medicaid immigration rules. Children and pregnant people have their own Apple Health programs, as do older adults, and each one has its own income limit. Each group is explained in our Medicaid eligibility guide.

How much income is too high for Apple Health

The Health Care Authority publishes a chart each year, and it changes every April. In the 2026 chart, a single adult can earn up to $1,835 a month. A household of two can earn up to $2,490 a month, and a household of four can earn up to $3,795 a month. All of these amounts are counted before taxes are taken out.

Income is counted for the whole household, so the number of people at home matters. Even when you are close to the line, it is worth applying. A guess at home could cost you coverage you might have had.

How to apply

Washington Healthplanfinder is the state's website for both Apple Health and private plans. Applications are open at any time of year, and there are four main ways to start.

• Online applications go through Healthplanfinder, using the Apply Now button.
• Call Healthplanfinder at 1-855-923-4633 for help, or use the TTY number, which is 1-855-627-9604.
• The state's Medical Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-562-3022 answers questions about your case or a denial. It answers Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time, and you can dial 711 to use the relay service.
• A trained local helper can sit with you, and Healthplanfinder lists free help near you.

Have your household's monthly income ready before you start. You will also need the Social Security number and birth date of each person, plus any immigration papers. When you are approved, coverage starts on the first day of the month in which you applied, the state says. A ProviderOne services card should arrive in the mail in about two weeks. Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid lists the papers to collect.

Apple Health Expansion for adults without immigration status

A separate state program, called Apple Health Expansion, is also run in Washington. It gives full coverage to adults age 19 or older whose income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. These adults must not qualify for other Apple Health programs because of their immigration status. The enrollment cap has been met, the state says. People who apply now can still be considered if space opens, so it can be worth finishing an application.

The 2027 work rule

Starting January 1, 2027, adults on Apple Health for Adults must meet a federal work rule or have an exemption. Any one of these five ways meets the rule, the state says.

• Earning at least $580 a month meets the rule.
• Working at least 80 hours a month, paid or unpaid, meets the rule.
• Going to school at least half-time meets the rule.
• Joining a work program or doing community service for at least 80 hours a month also meets it.
• Any mix of work, school, a work program and volunteering that adds up to 80 hours counts as well.

Under the federal rule, people who are pregnant are exempt. So are parents or caregivers of a child 13 or younger, and many people with serious health problems. An online survey from the state shows whether the rule applies to you. Notices will also be mailed to adults whose contact information is current, so keep your address up to date. More detail is in our Medicaid work requirement guide.

Hospital charity care is stronger in Washington

Washington has a law about hospital charity care. Charity care means a hospital must write off all or part of your bill when your income is low, even if you have no insurance. The law sets minimum rules that hospitals must follow, and a hospital may choose to be more generous.

Large hospital systems must cover the full patient bill when your income is up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. They must give 75 percent off between 301 and 350 percent, and 50 percent off between 351 and 400 percent. Other hospitals must cover the full bill up to 200 percent of poverty, with discounts above that up to 300 percent.

Your application goes to the hospital, and a financial counselor there can help. A complaint can go to the state Attorney General if you think a hospital broke the rules. See our guide to hospital financial assistance for the steps.

If your income is above the limit

Healthplanfinder is also the state's official health benefit exchange, which is how it can help with private plans. An exchange is a marketplace where you compare private plans. Open enrollment runs from November 1 to January 15. A tax credit is government money that lowers your monthly plan cost. The extra federal credits that began during the pandemic ended after 2025. For 2026 and 2027, people who earn more than 400 percent of the poverty level, which is four times that yearly amount, cannot get a tax credit.

A job loss or other loss of coverage opens a special window to sign up. That window can open outside the regular open enrollment dates.

Health centers, doctor checks and direct primary care

Community health centers in the state get support from the Washington Association for Community Health. These centers charge based on your income and family size, and they see patients with or without insurance. HRSA, the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, has a free Find a Health Center tool that asks for your address. Our community health center guide shows what to ask before you go.

A Provider Credential Search from the state Department of Health lets you check a doctor's license. Washington law also has a chapter on direct primary care, where a doctor charges a flat monthly fee for visits. The law says such practices are not insurers. Our directory lists cash-pay doctors, and you can ask any office for a written list of what the fee covers.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have chest pain, trouble breathing or any other emergency. Federal law requires the hospital to examine and stabilize you, even if you cannot pay.