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November 5, 2019
 Changes to Washington's Apple Health (Medicaid) in 2020
Changes are coming to Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) next year, in counties throughout the state - including Kitsap. Beginning January 1, 2020, people with Washington Apple Health coverage will have a managed care health plan that coordinates all their care, including services for physical health, mental health, and drug and alcohol treatment.
Apple Health shifts to whole-person care, coordinated so people get the help they need for physical and behavioral health (mental health and substance-use disorder treatment), but the change does not reduce benefits. For individuals who also have Medicare, this applies to behavioral health services only.
Clients will stay enrolled in their current plan, unless that plan will not be an option in 2020. In that case, the Health Care Authority will auto-enroll clients to one of the offered plans.
Here are some key dates for clients:
- October 1, 2019 the Health Care Authority sent letters to Apple Health clients to summarize the changes to behavioral health services that start January 2020
- November 21, 2019 HCA begins enrollment process for Jan. 1, 2020
- Late November to early December, 2019 HCA sends letters to clients with the name of their health plan, a link to the benefits booklet, and instructions on how to change their plan
- December 1, 2019 – HCA’s website and customer service phone lines will be available to assist clients
This change applies to Apple Health managed care programs only. It does not apply to individuals receiving Apple Health coverage without a managed care plan. These individuals will continue to receive physical health services as they do today. For more information about access to behavioral health services for these individuals, view the BHSO fact sheet at www.hca.wa.gov/assets/program/bhso-fact-sheet.pdf.
For more information, call 800-562-3022 or email askmedicaid@hca.wa.gov .
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