Washington state has recently made a significant change in its health insurance policy. Previously, undocumented immigrants were not eligible for state health insurance. However, thanks to a 1332 Innovation Waiver filed by Governor Jay Inslee, the state's health insurance market, Healthplanfinder, is now open to potentially more than 105,000 undocumented individuals.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are approximately 249,000 undocumented people living in Washington, with around 119,000 of them lacking health insurance coverage. With the new policy, an estimated 105,000 individuals who were previously ineligible due to federal restrictions will now have the opportunity to purchase coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder in 2024.
The 1332 Waiver, named after Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), allows states to develop innovative approaches to providing health insurance coverage. In this case, the waiver aims to improve health equity by expanding access to insurance for undocumented individuals, who are significantly more likely to be uninsured compared to U.S. citizens.
Brisa Guajardo, a community outreach manager with Community Health Plan Washington, is actively involved in educating the Latino community about this policy change. She understands that many people are concerned about how this may impact their future immigration status, particularly in relation to the Department of Homeland Security's "public charge rule." However, Brisa's role is to reassure them that this policy change will not have any negative consequences for their immigration status. The "public charge rule" makes certain noncitizens ineligible for visas or status adjustments if they are likely to become primarily dependent on government assistance.
Undocumented immigrants have until January to take advantage of this new opportunity and enroll in health insurance coverage.
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