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Summary
With the end of COVID pandemic emergency measures, many Apple Health (Medicaid) clients must confirm eligibility for Apple Health, or enroll in alternative insurance options. Clients can login to Washington Healthplanfinder to check their renewal status and update their contact information. King County provides free support for those who need assistance with re-enrollment or to enroll in alternative insurance options.
Story
With the end of COVID pandemic emergency measures, thousands of King County residents and families need to take action to maintain their health insurance. And for many residents, action is needed by May 31, 2023.
“We don’t want anyone to go without the care they need because the right paperwork didn’t get filed – so if you have Apple Health coverage, or know anyone who does, please take steps to confirm or re-enroll,” said Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health—Seattle & King County.
During the pandemic, more than 100,000 King County residents were newly enrolled in Apple Health insurance coverage. Now, many people must confirm eligibility for Apple Health, or enroll in alternative insurance options. County residents are urged to update their contact information at www.wahealthplanfinder.org, or by calling either Healthplanfinder Customer Support at 1-855-923-4633 or the King County Community Health Access Program at 1-800-756-5437 – before June 1.
“Patients, providers, funders—we must all work together to get the word out about this important and quick way to keep people eligible for behavioral and physical healthcare,” said King County Department of Community and Human Services Director Leo Flor. “Apple Health is an important part of responding to the growing behavioral health needs in the region and ensuring that people have health coverage especially when facing financial hardships. By taking a couple simple steps to update your information and sharing awareness we can help our family and friends stay healthy.”
Public Health—Seattle & King County and King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) serve a large percentage of Apple Health clients both directly and indirectly. The King County Integrated Care Network (KCICN) in DCHS’ Behavioral Health and Recovery Division works directly with community behavioral health providers to serve Medicaid patients, including outpatient behavioral health services, substance use disorder residential treatment, and mental health programs.
Not all Apple Health members need to re-enroll. Anyone whose renewal is due should receive a postcard, letter and other messages from the Washington Health Care Authority and Washington Healthplanfinder. However, if contact information has changed, they may not receive the notification.
Clients can login to Washington Healthplanfinder to check their renewal status. The online enrollment process through Healthplanfinder can determine if a client is still eligible for Apple Health (also called Medicaid). If someone is not eligible for Apple Health, there are other insurance options, like enrolling into a Cascade Care health plan that can cost less than $10 per month.
In April, more than 30,000 Apple Health enrollees in King County were first notified about potentially losing coverage after May 31. Renewal notices are sent out every month, on the anniversary of the month when someone first enrolled in Apple Health. For some people, eligibility can be determined automatically, but others need to take action to confirm or enroll in other programs.
Outreach will continue over the next 12 months, as more people reach their renewal months.
Steps to take for Apple Health clients:
- Check your account to make sure your contact info is up to date (at WAHealthplanfinder.org)
- Be on the lookout for a letter, postcard or electronic message about renewal
- If you get a letter or message, you can take action by:
- Logging into your account, checking messages and providing the information required
- Getting help from a King County health insurance Navigator by phone at 1-800-756-5437 or email at chap@kingcounty.gov
- Making an appointment with a local Navigator at kingcounty.gov/outreach (registration form is at the bottom of the page)
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for more than two million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. More at www.kingcounty.gov/health
Keep up with the latest Public Health news in King County by subscribing to the department’s blog, Public Health Insider.
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