Public Resources
Accessing Care
E-Health Insurance
Over 45 million Americans are uninsured today. While Free Clinics provide care to the uninsured, they operate with limited resources and with a limited scope of practice. To find out if you and your family can afford full or catastrophic coverage, follow the link and get quotes today.
Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers (WACMHC)
For more information on low-cost health clinics, visit the WACMHC site for a listing of community and migrant health centers by county.
Washington Basic Health Plan
Washington Basic Health Plan is a state-sponsored program that provides low-cost insurance through private health plans to eligible Washington residents. Please click on the link for more details and eligibility criteria for Washington Basic Health.
Apple Health for Kids
Apple Health for Kids is a new Washington State initiative aimed at streamlining applications for children’s medical. Up to 75,000 Washington children are still uninsured. Many of these families are eligible – but they just don’t know it. Don’t make that mistake. Health coverage doesn’t just work when your children are sick. It also includes preventive care like immunizations or physical exams. If your children need coverage, check it out today.
Washington Social and Health Services- Medicaid
To find out if you qualify for Medicaid and other DSHS programs, please click the link and take the eligibility quiz.
Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
For tips on how to find an insurance plan, visit the Insurance Commissioner’s website.
Medication Assistance
Rx Outreach Rx Outreach is a fully-licensed mail order pharmacy that is committed to making the use of prescription drugs safer and more affordable. Rx Outreach is not a prescription insurance program nor an internet pharmacy. Rx Outreach was developed to provide a safe, affordable, and easy way for people of all ages to get medicines they need. The program offers prescription medicines to uninsured and underinsured individuals and families, as well as those who have limited prescription drug coverage. Find out if you meet the eligibility requirements here.
Washington Prescription Drug Program WPDP is a new prescription drug discount program created by the legislature at the request of Governor Gregoire. It is similar to a grocery store club card where discounts are taken off at the point of sale. The Prescription Drug Program has developed several tools, released discount card programs, and pooled resources with other organizations with the same goal in mind: providing information and programs that serve the residents of Washington and their current needs for prescription drug purchasing assistance. WPDP is free and all Washington residents are eligible. On-line enrollments is available here.
Washington Drug Card is a free statewide discount prescription assistance program. Washington residents can download a card, locate participating pharmacies, and look up discounted drug prices by visiting www.washingtondrugcard.com.
Health Care Reform and Studies
What Is the Impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on the States?
A new series of reports, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, explores the effect health reform will have on state governments, consumers, the economy and health care costs. In the first two papers in the series, released today, Urban Institute researchers look at the many ways health reform will affect states. June 2010
Side-by-Side Comparison of Major Health Care Reform Proposals
Developed by the Kaiser Family Foundation, this on-line tool allows you to view various government proposals for health care reform in a side by side format, including a summary of final health care reform law. June 2010
Health Insurance Reform Reality Check from the White House
This is the President’s response to the many common misconceptions about health reform in the United State.
HealthReform.gov
If you’d like to get more in-depth information about federal health reform and how you can participate, check out this website.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Health Reform Blog
America’s leaders are grappling with proposals and ideas to improve health care while reining in costs. On RWJF’s health reform blog, leading experts are illuminating critical aspects of this debate.
America’s Uninsured Crisis
The goal of this report is to inform the health reform policy debate—in 2009—with an up-to-date assessment of the research evidence. This report addresses three key questions: (1) What are the dynamics driving downward trends in health insurance coverage? (2) Is being uninsured harmful to the health of children and adults? (3) Are insured people affected by high rates of uninsurance in their communities? February 2009
Report: Employment Status of Medical Assistance Clients with DSHS Medical Coverage
Nationally, an increasing number of employers faced with rising employee health care premium costs either have chosen to drop health care benefits for their employees or to pass on to their employees a greater
share of coverage costs. As a consequence, more employees and their dependents either go without health insurance, apply for state purchased health care programs supported with public funds, or seek uncompensated
care at hospitals and community clinics. This report provides aggregate and employer-specific data related to employed DSHS Medical Assistance clients and non-client parents with dependents with DSHS medical
coverage. Employers are ranked by firm (high to low) by number of DSHS Medical Clients. January 2009