Health coverage and care options in Washington State can differ depending on your citizenship and immigration status. Learn more about your options below.

Health Care and Coverage Options

If you are not a citizen of the United States, your options for health care and coverage will differ based on your particular immigration status.

There are some programs that are available to all Washington residents, even those without proof of a lawful immigration status. Learn about health care and coverage options for immigrants with different statuses in our comprehensive Know Your Rights training. To request a speaker for your community on this training, contact nohla@nohla.org.

Learn more about current & future coverage options (with additional resources):

• Starting November 2023, all Washingtonians became eligible to purchase health coverage starting January 2024 via WA Healthplanfinder regardless of immigration status due to Washington’s landmark 1332 waiver.
  • Learn more from Healthplanfinder and find resources to share in 25 languages.
  • NoHLA summarizes both new 2024 coverage options beginning for undocumented immigrants in January and July (with Asian Counseling and Referral Service).  Also, feel free to share our summary flyer in English (with ACRS, updated October 2024) & Spanish (with the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle in October 2023) as well as our trifold in Spanish (in partnership with Empower Next Generations) and trifold in English (with ACRS).
• Washington launched the Apple Health Expansion on July 1, 2024. This Medicaid-like program is for Washington adults not eligible for Apple Health programs based on immigration status and not eligible for qualified health plans with advance premium tax credits (APTCs).  The application launched June 20, 2024 at 8 a.m. and the current enrollment capacity has been met.  Today eligible people with income up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) can apply for an opportunity to be considered if/when space becomes available using these pathways:
  • Washingtonians ages 19 to 64 can apply at wahealthplanfinder.org
  • Washingtonians ages 65 and older can apply at washingtonconnection.org

See our new flyer in English and in Spanish encouraging people to meet with a navigator today to learn more about your options!

• Get free help understanding your health coverage and care options from a nonprofit Navigator in your community. You can search by preferred language and location.
• View the slides from NoHLA's training on Washington's AEM ("Alien Emergency Medical") Program, Washington's July 2022 Charity Care update, or Language Access in Health Care in Washington in English and Spanish.
• In July 2022, the Washington State Health Care Authority announced grant awards to 48 organizations for the purpose of providing free health care services for people who are under 200% of federal poverty level and are uninsured and underinsured, regardless of immigration status while funds are available.  The Latino Community Fund of Washington summarizes this and lists grant recipients in this Spanish brochure.

Learn more about advocacy:

• Washington immigrant communities and allies are working to continue expanding coverage and care options.  Learn more about the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign and our affordability goals for the future.
• Anticipating new 2024 coverage, the Latino Community Fund (LCF) and Northwest Health Law Advocates co-authored this landscape scan of Spanish-speaking immigrants in Washington, highlighting barriers to health care they experience, areas for additional outreach, and recommendations to fulfill Washington’s promise to provide equity in health coverage. The report informed Washington Health Benefit Exchange efforts to improve outreach and navigation services.

Using Health Programs and Public Charge

The federal government has confirmed that accessing most public benefits does not affect immigration status.

The Trump Administration’s restrictive “public charge” policy has ended. Immigrants can safely use many benefits, including government health care programs, without fear that it will affect immigration status. It is also safe to get COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccines.

There is only one exception where public charge could apply for some immigrants using government health care programs: getting long-term care in an institution like a nursing home. This includes things like a long-term stay in a nursing home paid for by Medicaid. It does not include incarceration, short-term rehabilitation, or home- and community- based long-term care.

But remember that the public charge test does not apply to many immigrants, and getting a public benefit does not automatically make someone a public charge. For individual advice about long-term care and public charge, speak to an immigration attorney.

Learn more:

• Washington Law Help: “Public Charge: What You Need to Know” (Feb. 2023)
• The 1, 2, 3s of Public Charge in Washington (Aug. 2023)
  • English
  • Español
• National Protecting Immigrant Families resources:
  • What advocates need to know (Sept. 2022)
  • Resources for communities (Jan. 2023) available in:
    • English
    • اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ
    • 汉语
    • Kreyòl ayisyen
    • Français
    • 한국어
    • Español
    • Tagalog
    • Tiếng Việt
• Keep Your Benefits screening tool to help you understand if public charge applies.

Find legal help

See this list of free and low-cost attorneys or search for an attorney in your area at the National Immigration Legal Services Directory or The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Getting Language Services

You have a right to free language services when you apply for health coverage, communicate with your health plan, and access medical services.

You can ask for a language interpreter, written information translated into the language you need, and disability accommodations like Braille or large print.

Learn more about your language access rights in our slides on Language Access in Health Care in Washington in English and Spanish.

COVID-19 Tests, Vaccines, and Care

Everyone can get COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and some treatments for free, regardless of immigration status. You do not need a Social Security Number or insurance to get a test or vaccine. The medical provider may ask you for a Social Security Number or insurance card, but you can say no and still get a COVID-19 test or vaccine for free. You can also get some COVID-19 treatment for free, regardless of immigration status.

Learn:

• where you can find free COVID-19 testing
• where you can get a free COVID-19 vaccine by entering your zip code and selecting Bridge Access Program Participant
• how to schedule a free virtual appointment online or call 1-833-273-6330 to see if you are eligible for an antiviral prescription drug treatment, if you test positive
• about the program that makes the drug PAXLOVID available for free
• what resources are available through Care Connect Washington, if you or your family are affected by COVID-19

In addition, if you are uninsured and undocumented, you may qualify for the Alien Emergency Medical program.

Updated April 8, 2024

The information contained on this website is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For individual legal advice on your particular situation, contact an attorney. CLEAR (Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral) is a toll-free legal hotline for people with low incomes, managed by Northwest Justice Project, an organization providing legal assistance to eligible low-income families and individuals needing help with civil (non-criminal) legal problems in Washington state.