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Washington Medicaid & Healthcare Guide
Medicaid eligibility, CHIP, and ACA marketplace info for Washington — income limits, application URLs, and a step-by-step apply guide.
Washington Medicaid & Marketplace at a Glance
Medicaid Expansion
Adopted
Medicaid — Adults
138% FPL
Income limit
Medicaid — Children
215% FPL
Income limit
Medicaid — Pregnant
215% FPL
Income limit
CHIP — Children
317% FPL
Separate program
ACA Marketplace
State-run
Washington Healthplanfinder
Coverage Gap
No
Continuous coverage
Apply for Medicaid: https://www.hca.wa.gov/
Washington Healthplanfinder: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/
How to Apply for Medicaid in Washington
- 1
Check your eligibility
In Washington, an adult typically qualifies for Medicaid if household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children qualify up to 215% FPL, and pregnant residents up to 215% FPL.
- Household size (everyone listed on your tax return)
- Annual household gross income
- Citizenship or qualified immigration status
- Washington residency
- 2
Gather your documents
Medicaid uses your federal tax return as the income reference. Have proof of identity, citizenship or immigration status, residency, and current income ready before you start the application.
- 3
Apply through Washington Healthplanfinder
Washington runs its own ACA marketplace. A single application screens you for Medicaid, CHIP, and marketplace subsidies and routes you to the right program.
Start application → - 4
Submit and wait for the eligibility decision
Most Medicaid decisions arrive within 45 days (90 days if eligibility depends on disability). You may be asked to submit additional verification — respond promptly to avoid delays.
- 5
Enroll in a plan and choose providers
Once approved, Washington will assign or let you choose from Medicaid managed care plans. Confirm your doctors are in network before your first appointment.
Documents Checklist (Medicaid Application)
Proof of Identity
Bring 1 item from this list
Proof of Income
Bring 1 item from this list
Proof of State Residency
Bring 1 item from this list
Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status
Bring 1 item from this list
Compare with Nearby States
Continuous coverage: Washington has adopted ACA Medicaid expansion. Adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for Medicaid, and incomes above that transition to subsidized marketplace plans — no coverage gap.
What is Medicaid expansion under the ACA?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gave states the option to expand Medicaid to cover most adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. As of 2026, 41 states plus DC have adopted expansion; the remaining states use stricter pre-ACA income limits. Whether your state expanded determines whether a low-income adult qualifies for Medicaid at all.
What is the 'coverage gap'?
In states that did not adopt ACA Medicaid expansion, adults earning between 0% and 100% of the Federal Poverty Level may have no realistic coverage option: they earn too much for traditional Medicaid (which usually covers only parents, pregnant residents, or people with disabilities) and too little to qualify for marketplace subsidies, which start at 100% FPL. This income band is called the coverage gap.
What is the difference between Medicaid and CHIP?
Medicaid covers low-income individuals and families; CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) covers children whose families earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. Many states run CHIP as a separate program with its own enrollment, while others run it as a Medicaid-expansion CHIP under unified eligibility rules.
Where do I apply for Medicaid?
You can apply through Healthcare.gov (which screens for Medicaid and routes you to your state) or directly with your state's Medicaid agency. States that run their own marketplace (e.g., Covered California, kynect, New York State of Health) use a single combined application for Medicaid, CHIP, and marketplace plans. The state pages on this site link to the official application URL.
How often does Medicaid eligibility data change?
Federal Poverty Levels are updated each January by HHS. State Medicaid income limits update annually but expansion decisions, eligibility categories, and program rules can change mid-year via state legislation or 1115 waivers. KFF refreshes its state tables continuously; Mubboo refreshes this data when KFF and Medicaid.gov publish updates.
More Washington local info:
Data verified: 2026-05-13 (data year 2026). Eligibility rules and income thresholds change — always confirm with the official Washington Medicaid agency before applying. Sources: kff_eligibility, kff_expansion, kff_marketplace, medicaid_gov, wiki_marketplace.
More about Washington
Explore other state-specific topics to get the full picture of living in Washington.