Last month Washington’s Health Benefits Exchange (HBE) submitted a request for a waiver from the federal government to support immigrant health access. If approved, Washington would become the first state in the nation to provide access to health and dental coverage through an Affordable Care Act marketplace, regardless of immigration status. (In Washington, this marketplace is called the Health Benefit Exchange, or WAhealthplanfinder.) The state legislature has indicated an intent to provide financial support for low-income residents not eligible for federal subsidies in 2024. NoHLA collaborated with other Health Equity for Immigrant Campaign members to gather many supportive comments to the federal government. In all 410 comments were received, over 400 of which were in support. 

The federal comment period is open until July 14th.

The Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign is supporting the Exchange’s 1332 request as one part of a broader state solution to health coverage for immigrants.  We ask organizations and individuals to support HBE’s request to grant equal access to all Washingtonians in the following ways:

1. Organizations: sign on to our joint organization sign on letter by 5pm 13 July.
2. Organizations: send your own support letter using our template for a Letter of Support — there’s space for you to add more about your organization and why it supports expanding health coverage access for immigrants
3. Organizations: encourage your national parent organization if you think they’ll be supportive and partner organizations to send their own support letter using our template for a Letter of Support
4. Individuals: send an individual email.

Note: public comments will be posted on federal government websites: your name and email will be visible to the general public.

All comments are due by July 14th at the latest. We recommend emailing by 2 PM Pacific Time