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Begun as a pilot project. Created in 1987 to provide access to health insuran...
Frequently Asked Questions - Basic Health Wait List
Is Basic Health (BH) disenrolling members? Due to legislation (ESHB 1244) an...
Frequently Asked Questions About Dually Eligible Members
Frequently asked questions about dually eligible members.
Budget Update - December 9, 2009
Governor Gregoire announced a supplemental budget proposal this morning to address a $2.6 billion deficit in state revenue. Under her budget proposal, the Basic Health program would be eliminated effective June 30, 2010.
Budget Questions and Answers (58.7 KB)
Notice
Basic Health does not offer enrollment over the phone and does not ask for credit card information. Please help protect your identity and do not give credit card information to someone claiming to be a Basic Health Representative. We will send you a letter when we can offer you enrollment.
Basic Health is a state-sponsored program providing low-cost health care coverage through private health plans.
To be eligible for BH, Washington residents must:
- Be between 0-200% of federal poverty guidelines (FPL)
- Not be eligible for free or purchased Medicare
- Not be receiving Washington Department of Social Services (DSHS) medical services (Medicaid)
- Not be institutionalized at the time of enrollment; and
- Not be attending school full-time in the United States on a student visa
Basic Health has a Wait List
Register for the wait list online
To stay within the appropriated budget, Basic Health is no longer processing incoming applications to determine eligibility and has officially implemented a waiting list. New applicants will be placed on a list behind those already waiting. When space becomes available in the future, Basic Health will release names from the list in date-received order and notify applicants.
The following groups, however, may by-pass this wait list. This includes:
- Foster Parents
- Personal Care Workers
- Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)
- Tribal Sponsored Accounts
- Washington National Guard or Reserves who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Noble Eagle.
- BH Plus and Maternity applicants who we sent to DSHS and who were deemed ineligible for DSHS programs.
- Former BH members who disenrolled due to Medicaid coverage who have since lost that coverage and notified BH within 30 days.
To request an application for these programs please call 1-800-660-9840.
To get on the wait list, please call 1-800-660-9840 or register online. Only one person needs to register one time for the entire household. Please use your mailing address and not your emaill address to register. We will notify you when space becomes available.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the wait list
Frequently asked questions about dually eligible members
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) may be able to help you with medical assistance.

