Washington Medicaid Income Limits – 2021

The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Washington Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. In the state of Washington, Medicaid is called Apple Health.

Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Washington Medicaid or not.

However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Washington and how it works.

Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.

It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.

How Many People are on Medicaid?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:

• 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
• 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
• 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP

Washington Medicaid

The Washington Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.

As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1.9 million people.

This includes about 853,000 children as shown by the image below.

In the State of Washington, the Medicaid program is run by the State of Washington Health Care Authority.

Who Can Get Medicaid in Washington?

You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:

• You think you are pregnant
• The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
• You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
• An adult age 65 or older.
• You are legally blind.
• Living with a disability or disabled.
• You are in need of nursing home care.

Washington Medicaid Income Limit

The Washington Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.

To qualify, you must meet the Washington Medicaid Income limits listed below.

Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.

Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:

• Children up to age 1 with family income up to 210 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 210 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 210 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 312 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 193 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 37 percent of FPL
• Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
• Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL

Washington Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Washington Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.

For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.

Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Washington who qualify for Medicaid.

Washington Medicaid Income Limit for Children 

Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Washington has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Washington.

For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Washington, see our Washington Expansion update below.

Washington Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Washington Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above

You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.

Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.

For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 193% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $33,621 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Washington Medicaid

There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Washington.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the wahealthplanfinder.org Portal – as shown in the image below.

If you have an account, you can log in or create your wahealthplanfinder.org account. Click here to be taken to the website.

Option 2 – Apply at a local HCS office Near You

You can apply in person at the Washington Home and Community Services (HCS) office near you. Click here to locate an office.

Option 3 – Download Application

You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your an HCS office or submit it in person.

Washington Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Washington Medicaid Agency:

For Medicaid Applicant & Member Services

If you are not enrolled in an Apple Health managed care plan, or you don’t know how to reach your plan, contact Apple Health Customer Service at 1-800-562-3022.

Washington Medicaid Expansion Update

Medicaid expansion was added as a line item to the state budget (with bipartisan approval), and on June 30, 2013.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee approved the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Eligible residents were able to begin submitting applications on October 1, 2013, with expanded Medicaid policies effective January 1, 2014.

As a result of Medicaid expansion, total enrollment in Washington Medicaid and CHIP grew by nearly 644,000 people between the fall of 2013 and November 2017.

That was an enrollment growth of 58 percent, the sixth-highest percentage increase in the nation.

As a result of Medicaid expansion, the state saw a 56% reduction in the insured rate from 2013 to 2017.

Washington Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Washington Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Washington, you can ask us in the comments section below.

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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
West Virginia CHIP Medicaid Income Limits