In April 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Washington’s 1115 Waiver request to extend continuous eligibility for any child under six who is enrolled in a free Apple Health (Medicaid) program.
Children under the age of six on free Apple Health will now receive continuous eligibility through their sixth birthday, regardless of changes in household income, if they were eligible in the month of application.
Note: There have been no changes to continuous eligibility for kids over age six on free Apple Health or for those on Apple Health for Kids with premiums, also known as Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Coverage for these groups continues to be renewed for 12 months at a time.
What is being done to keep kids covered?
In June 2023, the Health Care Authority (HCA) began work to maintain continuous eligibility for children under the age of six. A manual process is in place to identify eligible children who have lost coverage and reinstate them.
Once the system supports continuous eligibility for kids under age six, children who are active on free Apple Health Kids and meet the eligibility criteria will have their certification period automatically extended through the month they turn six.