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Washington Basic Health is Washington's state-sponsored program providing low-cost health care coverage through private health plans.

History

Basic Health was created in 1987 as a pilot project to provide access to health insurance for low-income Washington residents, it was made permanent in 1993. The program is a state subsidy for health insurance - all participants pay premiums, deductibles and co-payments. It works as a partnership with the private sector - using market-based, non-regulatory approach

Beginning in February 2009, Basic Health took steps to reduce enrollment by enrolling one new applicant for every two members that left the program. This came about due to a $500 million state budget shortfall through June 2009. The Health Care Authority (the government body overseeing Basic Health among six other state health care programs) was required to cut $15 million dollars from their budget. Part of this budget cut included reducing Basic Health enrollment by 50%. Enrollment was expected to be cut down to 97,300 by December 2009.

Beginning May 2009 Basic Health stopped processing incoming applications altogether and officially implemented a waiting list. This is the second time that Basic Health had a waiting list, the first being in 1991 when the mandated enrollment of 22,000 members was reached. All new applicants to Basic Health 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 the order applications were received. Some groups, however, are able to by-pass the waiting list. These groups include: foster parents, personal care workers, people with the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), people with tribal-sponsored accounts, veterans of the Washington National Guard or Reserve who served in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or Noble Eagle, Basic Health Plus and/or Maternity applicants who were sent to DSHS and then deemed ineligible for DSHS programs, and former Basic Health members who were disenrolled due to Medicaid coverage, but have since lost Medicaid coverage (and who let Basic Health know within 30 days of losing coverage).

Beginning January 2010, premiums and deductibles for those remaining on Basic Health will increase. In 2009, the average enrollee paid $34 a month, and the state paid the remaining $211. Under the guidelines for 2010, the average monthly payment will increase 76%, to $60. Additionally, the annual $150 deductible will increase 67%, to $250.

Eligibility

Elgibility requirements for Basic Health include: Washington residency, Be between 0-200% of federal poverty guidelines 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

External links

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