Washington Health InsuranceIndividuals and Families
Health Plans for Individuals & Families
More Types of Low-Cost Washington Health Insurance Care Coverage
Low-cost health coverage options
Community Health Clinics
These clinics offer health services for the entire community on a sliding-scale fee. For information, call the Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers at 360-786-9722 or visit www.bphc.hrsa.gov.
Early Intervention Program
If you have HIV, this program can provide financial help for medical and dental coverage, and prescription drugs. If you are eligible, the program also provides help with paying insurance premiums. For information, call the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-272-2437.
Evergreen Health Insurance Program (EHIP)
If you have AIDS, this program may help you pay for your insurance premiums. For information, call EHIP at 1-800-945-4256.
General Assistance Unemployable (GAU)
GAU provides cash and medical benefits to people who are physically and/or mentally incapacitated and unemployable for 90 days from the date of application. Medical care is limited. Immigrants can also apply for this program. You must meet disability, income, and assets requirements. For information, call DSHS at 1-800-865-7801 or visit www.dshs.wa.gov.
Health Care for Workers with Disability
This program allows disabled people who are working to buy medical coverage through a monthly premium based on their income. You must meet income requirements, however, there are no assets limits. You must also meet disability, employment status, and age (16-64) requirements. There are no citizenship requirements. For more information, call DSHS at 1-800-865-7801, or visit www.dshs.wa.gov.
Hospital Charity Care
Some hospitals offer a program for people who cannot pay their medical bills. They provide either free care or at-reduced prices to limited income people. Also, many hospitals offer financial assistance programs. You must meet income requirements. For more information, talk to the hospital billing office staff.
Indian Health Services (IHS)
This is a federal health program for American Indians and Alaska natives. IHS also may provide services to Indians of Canadian or Mexican origin, or to non-Indian women pregnant with an eligible Indian's child. For more information, call the IHS Portland service area office at 503-326-2020, which serves Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, or contact your local tribe/clinic.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a publicly funded program that provides health insurance to specific categories of people who meet financial eligibility requirements. You must meet citizenship requirements.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) offers Medicaid programs through its local Community Service Offices.
Medicaid is a complex system of programs, requirements, and benefits. There are many different Medicaid programs available for specific eligibility groups. In Washington, those groups include:
- pregnant women
- infants
- children
- low-income families
- disabled individuals
- blind people
- people over age 65
- aliens and refugees
Due to the variety of eligibility requirements for different programs, DSHS recommends you review your eligibility online at http://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/maa/eligibility/index.html. You can also talk to a customer service representative. Call DSHS at 1-800-562-3022 to find the Community Service Office nearest you.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program for people age 65 and older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), or kidney failure. It helps you pay for many health care expenses but not all of them. For more information, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call 1-800-808-0772.
Medicare Savings Programs
These are programs for people with limited income and assets to help pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. You must meet income and asset requirements. For more information, call DSHS at 1-800-865-7801 or visit www.dshs.wa.gov. You can also call the Medical Assistance HelpLine at 1-800-562-3022 or visit https://wws2.wa.gov/dshs/onlinecso/findservice.asp.
Take Charge
This program offers free family planning and birth control methods for one year for men and women. You must meet income, and citizenship or alien status requirements. For more information, call the Family Planning Hotline at 1-800-770-4334.
Tuberculosis care
If you have Tuberculosis, contact your local health department. To find the nearest office, visit http://www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm.
You can also look under "county" in the blue government listing pages of your phone book.
