During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) extended coverage for all Apple Health clients.
This extension ended on March 31, 2023.
HCA and DSHS are mailing renewal notices to all Apple Health enrollees. This means everyone on Apple Health will need to reapply for benefits. If you no longer qualify for Apple Health, you’ll need to find a different health insurance plan.
If you're under age 65 and no longer qualify for Apple Health
- Join your employer’s health plan or your spouse’s. Contact the employer for help signing up.
- Shop and select a health plan through the Washington Healthplanfinder (www.wahealthplanfinder.org). You may qualify for financial help. For assistance, call Washington Healthplanfinder at 855-923-4633.
- Buy an individual health plan directly from an insurance agent or broker. You'll need to call the company directly to enroll in a plan.
If you’re over age 65 or receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and lose coverage
Depending on your situation, here are some options:
- If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Part A only, you need to contact Social Security to also enroll in Medicare Part B online (www.ssa.gov) or call 800-772-1213.
- If you enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and did not sign up for a Medicare supplement plan (Medigap) within the first 6 months (called guaranteed issuance or Medigap Open Enrollment Period), you can apply for a Medigap plan. However, the company does not have to sell you one and can ask you questions about your health.
- If you did not sign up for Medicare when you first turned 65, you’ll need to contact Social Security enroll in Medicare online (www.ssa.gov) or call at 800-772-1213.
- You might also need to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan online (www.medicare.gov) or call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227).
If you want to learn more about the different Medicare plans or need more help with your Medicare options, call our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program for an office near you at 800-562-6900. SHIBA is a free, unbiased and confidential service.