Welcome to Apple Health which is what we call Medicaid in Washington State.
DOWNLOAD and save the document below that explains Apple Health.
2015 Apple Health Overview
There are a variety of reasons how you got to be on an Apple Health plan.
From signing up clients for 2014 and now 2015 health insurance plans in Washington State I have seen both the positive and negative aspects of this plan. It really depends on how you use medical care.
In general the Apple Health plans have a smaller network of doctors and more limited coverage, however the plans have no deductive and are free (or low cost), especially if your income is going to be a bit lower for 2015. At least you get health insurance for major medical issues…
In the Achieve Alpha Insurance office, the person you want to ask for is Colleen Jensen at 425-802-2783, as she is the one that is best to talk with regarding Apple Health…this is her area of expertise!
INCOME
There are many reasons why someone is on Apple Health. Typically it is because your income is below a certain level for the number of people in your family. Other main reasons are Pregnancy, Disability, and Adoption.
If you apply through the Washington Health Exchange, children are often automatically put onto Apple Health, while the parents have to choose a discounted Health Insurance plan. The family income has to be much higher in order for the children to be put onto an exchange health plan.
There are five carriers for Apple Health in 2015, just like last year. The process once you are assigned to Apple Health is for them to randomly assign you a carrier. You can change to another Apple Health provider any month (at this time), yet recommend to pick one and stick with it.
DOCTOR NETWORK
You may be able to keep your current doctor. Follow this exactly for best results:
1. Call your current doctors office and ask them “Do you take Apple Health or Medicaid plans?”
2. If they say NO, then your doctor is not covered (you can still pay cash to see them).
3. If they say YES, ask them “Which carriers to you take?”. After calling all your doctors offices, then assess which of the 5 carriers covers most of your doctors (or the most important ones to you).
4. If you need to switch plans, call the 1-800 number on the back of your PROVIDER ONE Card. Done.
ALTERNATIVE TO APPLE HEALTH
For those with a more acute medical issue or simply need certain doctors covered there is another option. That is to buy a plan direct from a carrier. Yes paying full price is not always an easy option financially, yet if you need better medical care it is worth paying for.
SWITCHING PLANS
Open Enrollment is from Nov 15th to April 17th. However if you have an Apple Health plan you are not locked into a plan. There are a variety of factors that enable someone to jump off an Apple Health plan. The main one is your income has increased, thus it forces you to choose a new plan on the Health Exchange. If this happens you have ONLY 60 days to choose a plan on the Exchange or Direct from a carrier. No exceptions.
Give us a call at 425-802-2783 if you have any questions, as we want to ensure that you make an informed decision about your medical needs…afterall most people can’t switch plans until 2016 once you are locked in.
Below is a CHEAT SHEET Guide about 2015 Individual Health Insurance in Washington State. It’s in simple English (as much as an Insurance Broker can).
2015 Cheat Sheet Guide to Picking a Plan
Below are my areas of expertise:
- Health Insurance (Every company in Washington State)
- Life Insurance (33 companies)
- Disability Insurance (8 companies)
- Tax Sheltered Accounts (Following IRS guidelines)
Gary Franke, MBA
Independent Broker
Achieve Alpha Insurance, LLC
12507 Bel-Red Rd, Ste 103
Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone:(425) 802-2783
gary@achieve-alpha.com
www.achieve-alpha.com