Coronavirus FAQs

Washington Healthplanfinder asks questions that are used to determine in real time your eligibility for public and commercial qualified health plan coverage options. You receive your eligibility as soon as you submit the application.
Any needed documents can be uploaded through your mobile device. SmartPlanFinder is an online tool that can help you find a plan that covers preferred providers and prescriptions.

Qualified Health Plan Coverage: You may be eligible for financial assistance through federal subsidies. Washington Healthplanfinder will calculate if you qualify for subsidies that lower your premiums and cost-sharing. Insurers include: BridgeSpan, Regence, Coordinated Care, Delta Dental, Dentegra, Kaiser Permanente, LifeWise, Molina, PacificSource, Premera, and Providence. Depending on where you live will depend on your options.

Washington Apple Health: Washington Healthplanfinder will determine if you qualify for no cost or low-cost care through Washington Apple Health. Apple Health can be a temporary coverage option until you return to work. It is important to update your application as your situation changes. Washington Apple Health insurers: Amerigroup, Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW), Coordinated Care, Molina, and UnitedHealthCare.

You should apply for coverage right away. Washington Healthplanfinder will determine if you qualify for Washington Apple Health coverage, which is available year-round, or qualified health plan coverage, which is available during an open-enrollment period and during the year if you experience a qualifying event.

If you are uninsured and want coverage given the situation with COVID-19, we are here to help. Sign up by April 8 for coverage beginning April 1. Contact an Enrollment Center, Navigator or Broker or our Customer Support Center today.
We will do our best to get you coverage.

Find a Navigator, Broker, or Enrollment Center at wahealthplanfinder.org/find-expert-advice.html or on the WAPlanfinder app.

You have 60 days of your employer coverage end date to enroll in coverage through WAHealthplanfinder.org or WAPlanfinder app. Washington Apple Health coverage is available year round if you qualify.

Reporting loss of coverage: Washington Healthplanfinder will guide you through reporting your change in coverage. This can be done entirely online. You can report your loss of employer coverage in Washington Healthplanfinder up to two months before it ends. This will help you avoid gaps in coverage.

COBRA: Before enrolling in COBRA, review your coverage options. Washington Healthplanfinder can provide affordable options to maintain coverage. If you enroll in COBRA and your employer stops helping pay for your COBRA premiums, you can report this change and sign up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder. If you enroll in COBRA and decide to end your COBRA coverage, it is not a change that qualifies you to sign up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder outside the open enrollment period.

Tip: Use SmartPlanFinder to help choose a plan that covers your existing providers and prescriptions.

Job loss could make you newly eligible for no cost or low-cost coverage through Washington Apple Health. Report your current income when applying for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.

Note: If you also lost coverage from your employer, this opens a Special Enrollment Period for you to shop for a plan. Plan selection must occur within 60 days from the qualifying life event.

Reporting unemployment benefits: Report weekly Employment Security benefits to receive accurate eligibility for no cost or low-cost coverage.

Coverage Start Date: Washington Apple Health coverage starts the month you enroll and can typically be used within 24-hours to obtain care or prescriptions.

Tip: Washington Apple Health can help with recent unpaid medical bills up to 3 months old.

A reduction of work hours could make you newly eligible for no cost or low-cost coverage through Washington Apple Health. Report your current income when applying for coverage through WAHealthplanfinder.org or WAPlanfinder mobile app.

No coverage: If you are uninsured and would like coverage given the situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) contact us immediately before April 8 for coverage beginning April 1.

Reporting unemployment benefits: Report wages (reduced level) and weekly Employment Security benefits to receive accurate eligibility for no cost or low-cost coverage.

Have employer coverage: Even if you have employer coverage, you may be eligible for no cost or low-cost coverage through Washington Apple Health. This program coordinates with your employer to help lower your costs.

Have Qualified Health Plan coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder: Report the change of income, you may qualify for extra financial help.

Tip: Update your Washington Healthplanfinder account as your circumstances change (example: your household income has changed).

Washington Apple Health can be a temporary coverage option until you return to work. Apply for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.

Reporting income when on unpaid leave: Enter your employer information and enter an income amount of “$0.01” (if you enter $0 as your income you will not be able to proceed).

Reporting Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML): Report your paid leave amount as ‘other income’.

Employer Coverage: Even if you have employer coverage, you may be eligible for no cost or low-cost coverage through Washington Apple Health. This program coordinates with your employer to help lower your costs.

Tip: Update your Washington Healthplanfinder account at as your circumstances change (example: you return to work).

Keep your account up to date with your current income. You may be eligible for no cost or low-cost care through Washington Apple Health, or more financial help paying for your qualified coverage.

An exceptional special enrollment period is now available through April 8, 2020 to qualified individuals who are uninsured. Apple Health enrollment is year-round.

Enrollment centers is where you can get free assistance from a registered broker or certified navigator. Call ahead for an appointment today.

Enrollment Centers

Registered brokers are licensed professionals that often live in and support their local communities. Brokers can help you fill out the application and can recommend a plan for you. Brokers may charge a small fee, unless they help you enroll into a Washington Apple Health plan.

Find a Broker Near You

Navigators are trained to help you complete an application and answer any questions as you enroll. You can get assistance in-person and over-the-phone from a Navigator.

Find a Navigator Near You

You can search for free help with someone in your community on our mobile app, WAPlanfinder! Find brokers and navigators near you to get help enrolling in a health or dental plan. You can also manage your coverage on the go, get all your important messages, view coverage details, and upload documents with the snap of a photo.

Additionally, our Customer Support Center can help individuals, families, and small businesses fill out the application or answer questions about financial help and the enrollment process. Help is available in 175 different languages.

Toll-Free: 1-855-923-4633

TTY/TDD: 1-855-627-9604

Commissioner Kreidler has ordered all health plans his office regulates to waive copays and deductibles for people requiring testing (doh.wa.gov) for COVID-19. If you are concerned about whether or not you should be tested, read the guidance from the Department of Health and call your providers first. Copays and deductibles will still apply if you need treatment.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is updating its recommendations (www.cdc.gov) for who should be tested.

If you are a member of a health sharing ministry, your coverage may be limited. Check the language of your coverage to understand what’s covered and what’s excluded.

Yes, as long as it is deemed medically necessary. Find more information on the Washington Apple Health COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQ Page.

Yes, as long as it is deemed medically necessary. Find more information on Washington Apple Health telehealth. 

Yes. All uninsured Washington residents are able to see if they qualify for a special enrollment or Apple Health.

The commissioner has instructed health plans to allow for one-time early refill for most prescriptions. You should check with your health plan if you have questions about whether or not your prescription is included. Also, the federal government is directing Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans) and Medicare Advantage plans to allow early refills, too, but you should check with your plan for more details.

Commissioner Kreidler has instructed all state-regulated health plans (PDF, 251KB) to waive deductibles and copays for people who need testing for COVID-19. State law gives him the authority (leg.wa.gov) to do so, once the governor has issued an emergency proclamation. The waiver only applies to the testing for COVID-19 and the provider visit to order the testing. People who suspect they need testing should check with the Department of Health (doh.wa.gov) and contact their provider’s office first. People who do not test positive for COVID-19 may still need to meet their deductibles and pay a copay.

A special enrollment period (SEP) is a time outside the yearly open enrollment period when you can sign up for qualified health and dental coverage. You qualify for a special enrollment period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child. The special enrollment period does not apply to free or low-cost Washington Apple Health coverage. If you qualify, you can get free or low-cost coverage Washington Apple Health year-round.

An exceptional special enrollment period is now available through April 8, 2020 to qualified individuals who are uninsured. Apple Health enrollment is year-round.

Enrollment centers where you can get free assistance from a registered broker or certified navigator. Call ahead for an appointment today.

Enrollment Centers

Registered brokers are licensed professionals that often live in and support their local communities. Brokers can help you fill out the application and can recommend a plan for you. Brokers may charge a small fee, unless they help you enroll into a Washington Apple Health plan.

Find a Broker Near You

Navigators are trained to help you complete an application and answer any questions as you enroll. You can get assistance in-person and over-the-phone from a Navigator.

Find a Navigator Near You

You can search for free help with someone in your community on our mobile app, WAPlanfinder! Find brokers and navigators near you to get help enrolling in a health or dental plan. You can also manage your coverage on the go, get all your important messages, view coverage details, and upload documents with the snap of a photo.

Additionally, our Customer Support Center can help individuals and families fill out the application or answer questions about financial help and the enrollment process. Help is available in 175 different languages.

Toll-Free: 1-855-923-4633

TTY/TDD: 1-855-627-9604

If you qualify for an SEP, you usually have up to 60 days following the event to enroll in a plan. If you miss that window, you have to wait until the next open enrollment period to apply.

You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you or anyone in your household had certain life changes in the past 60 days:

• Got married
• Had a baby, adopted a child, or placed a child for foster care
• Got divorced or legally separated and lost health insurance. (Divorce or legal separation without losing coverage doesn’t qualify you for a special enrollment period.)
• Loss of member in your household. You’ll be eligible for a special enrollment period if someone dies and as a result you’re no longer eligible for your current health plan
• Moving from a location outside of Washington state or moved counties within Washington State
• Tribal membership
• Getting released from jail or prison
• A change in citizenship or lawful presence status
• Loss of other health coverage
• Other life change

See if You Qualify

Washington Healthplanfinder has a network of customer support across Washington State to help you enroll in coverage that meets your needs and budget. Whether you prefer to receive assistance online, over the phone, or in-person, trained representatives are available to help educate you about your options and walk you through the enrollment process.

Find Expert Advice