Bookmark & ShareFor Immediate Release: 02/18/2011
Today the Legislature passed the 2011 Second Supplemental Budget. This budget preserves the Basic Health Plan (BHP), but reduces the program’s funding and limits eligibility. Effective March 1, 2011, only those enrollees who are determined to be Transition Eligible under the 1115 Medicaid Demonstration waiver or are foster parents licensed under chapter 74.15 RCW will continue to be eligible for subsidized coverage.
As a result, BH mailed approximately 17,500 enrollees a disenrollment notice today. The members being disenrolled are:
- Over 133% of the Federal Income Guidelines, or
- Ineligible for coverage because they have not verified their legal U.S. residency
There are also approximately 1,700 children who will be transferred to Apple Health for Kids effective April 1, 2011.
If you are a member who received a disenrollment notice and you believe the action taken on your account is wrong, we must receive your appeal within 30 days of the date of the letter. If you or someone on your Basic Health account were disenrolled because you have not verified your legal U.S. residency, include with your appeal a valid Social Security number (SSN) and date of birth or current immigration documentation proving legal U.S. residency for the disenrolled member(s).
Other coverage options
Members receiving disenrollment notices may be eligible for other services and benefits provided by DSHS programs and other agencies. Washington Connection can link disenrolled members to services in their area that match their needs. Washington residents can apply online for benefits and programs at www.WashingtonConnection.org.
Basic Health administers a non-subsidized program called Washington Health. This program operates at no cost to the state as members pay the full premiums. There is no waiting list for this program. To find out more information or to see if you are eligible, visit www.washingtonhealth.hca.wa.gov or call 1-800-660-9840.
The Washington Prescription Drug Program (WPDP) is free to all residents, regardless of age or income, who do not have prescription drug insurance coverage or whose insurance does not cover all their prescription drug needs. Enrollment forms are available online at www.rx.wa.gov or by calling 1-800-913-4146.
A list of other resources is available at www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov/other_options.html.
We understand this is very difficult for our members, but to meet our obligations under the law and our notification requirements under our rules, we must act today to prevent the risk of exceeding our budget so we can continue to operate the program.
