Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Locked out of your account? Need to make changes to your health insurance? Our Frequently Asked Questions page offers answers to common questions.
Questions about your coverage
Can I change my current health plan?
You may be able to change your current plan or enroll through special enrollment. Sign into your account to apply for a special enrollment period. You must apply within 60 days of a qualifying life event.
How do I cancel my health plan?
Trouble paying your premium
If you want to cancel because of the cost of your health plan's premium, try these things first:
- Update your income and other information in your account. If your situation has changed, you may qualify for more savings.
- Get support in your area. A navigator or broker may be able to recommend a better plan with more savings.
How to cancel Washington Apple Health (Medicaid)
You can cancel your Apple Health coverage online or by contacting the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA).
Washington Health Care Authority (HCA)
How to cancel your health plan online
Cancel one household member's health plan
- Sign into your account.
- Go to your Dashboard and select “Report a Change” from the Account Home section.
- Answer “Yes” to the statement “I need to add or remove someone from my household.”
- On the household members screen, select “Edit” next to the household member who no longer wants health insurance.
- Answer “No” to the question “Does this person want to apply for coverage or continue existing coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder?” Save your answer.
- Continue through the application and e-sign to submit the changes.
Cancel all household members' health plans
- Sign into your account.
- Go to your dashboard and select “Cancel” under the plan you want to cancel.
- You will be directed to the cancellation confirmation page. Confirm the cancellation of health insurance for all household members.
- Repeat for all plans you want to cancel.
You should receive an email confirming your cancellation.
Have questions? Need support? Contact us.
When your health plan ends
If you use the “Cancel” method:
- Your health plan will end the last day of the current month
If you use the “Report a Change” method by 11:59 p.m. of the 15th:
- Your health plan will end the last day of the current month
If you use the “Report a Change” method after the 15th:
- Your health plan will end the last day of the following month
Questions about your Washington Healthplanfinder account
I forgot my username or password. What do I do?
Do not create a new account. First try to retrieve your username or password.
Call our Customer Support Center if you still cannot log in.
Phone: 1-855-923-4633
TTY/TDD: 1-855-627-9604
Click here for up-to-date Customer Support Center hours.
Password Tips:
Your password should be 8 characters or more. It must include at least one special character, lower case letter, upper case letter and number.
How do I update my income?
- Sign into your account.
- Go to your dashboard and select “Report a Change.”
- Click “Yes” to the statement “My household income has changed by $150 or more, and it’s expected to last at least two consecutive months.”
- Update your income and e-sign your application.
How do I update my information?
- Sign into your account.
- Go to your dashboard and select “Report a Change.”
- Select the change you want to report on the “Report Your Changes” screen.
How do I apply for financial support?
- Sign into your account.
- Go to your dashboard and select “Report a Change.”
- Click “No” to the statement “My household wants to apply for a full cost Qualified Health Plan and no longer wants health insurance premium tax credits or Washington Apple Health.”
How do I submit documents to finish my application?
Sometimes we cannot verify all your details. When this happens, you will be given conditional eligibility. This means you need to submit documents to qualify for health insurance. Luckily, it is easy to do!
On the WAPlanfinder app
You can submit documents with the snap of a photo on our mobile app. To submit documents on the app:
- Sign into your account
- Go to the Document Center
- Upload the file or photo that contains your document
Download the WAPlanfinder app here. Only download WAPlanfinder from trusted sources like Apple’s App Store or Google's Play Store.
On wahealthplanfinder.org
You can also submit documents online. To submit documents online:
- Sign into your account
- Go to the dashboard and click on the Document Center tab
- The “Documents Needed” section lists the documents we need
- Click “Upload” to upload the file that contains your document
By fax or mail
You can also send us a copy of the document by fax or mail using the information below. We cannot return original copies of your document to you. Submitting a document by mail will delay processing.
Important: Do not mail your documents if the deadline is less than two weeks away.
Fax: 360-841-7620
Mail:
Washington Healthplanfinder
PO Box 946
Olympia, WA 98507
Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) clients
If you have Apple Health, you can also submit documents by the below methods.
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 1-855-867-4467
What is Smart Planfinder?
Smart Planfinder finds the best plan for you and your family
Smart Planfinder will ask a few questions about your household’s needs. Based on your answers, it will recommend plans that are most likely to meet these needs.
Smart Planfinder tells you if your doctor and prescriptions are covered
You can use Smart Planfinder to search for plans that cover specific providers, facilities or prescriptions. You can select up to five providers and five prescriptions in the tool.
When you choose a plan based on provider, we recommend calling the provider to verify. Covered providers can change throughout the year. Though we keep records up to date, it is safest to ask the provider if they accept that plan.
Smart Planfinder estimates your yearly costs
Smart Planfinder will ask about the medical care and prescriptions you expect to use. It uses these answers to estimate the yearly cost for each plan. This estimate includes premiums and out-of-pocket costs like copays, co-insurance and deductibles.
Smart Planfinder highlights Smart Choice plans
Smart Choice flags appear on plans that are recommended for you and your family. A Smart Choice recommendation considers the yearly cost and any preferred providers or prescriptions.
Smart Planfinder compares plans side-by-side
In the end, you are the expert in your household’s needs. Smart Planfinder allows you to compare plans side-by-side so you can choose the best plan available.
Questions about losing health insurance
What can I do if I lose my current health plan?
Apply for a special enrollment period. Loss of other health insurance can qualify you to sign up for a new health plan. Your health plan starts the first of the month after you enroll.
What if I know I will lose health insurance in the future?
You can apply for special enrollment before you lose health insurance. This makes sure you stay insured without a gap. Your health plan starts the first of the month after you enroll.
I lost my COBRA health plan. Is there anything I can do?
Apply for a special enrollment period. Loss of COBRA can qualify you to sign up outside open enrollment. Your health plan starts the first of the month after you enroll.
Questions about Washington Apple Health (Medicaid)
How do I apply for Apple Health?
Create an account or sign in to apply through Washington Healthplanfinder. You can apply for Apple Health any time of year.
How do I renew my Apple Health plan?
- Sign into your account.
- Click “Renew” on the left side of the page or click “Shop Current Plans” in the dashboard.
- Complete the application and e-sign to submit your renewal.
Questions about taxes and tax credits
What is a 1095-A?
You will get a 1095-A form every year you are enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan. This form shows how much financial support was applied to your plan the year before. You will get a 1095-A for each plan you were enrolled in. Tax forms are sent in late January.
Your 1095-A form is needed to complete Form 8962 on your federal income tax return. You must file a federal income tax return with Form 8962 if you used tax credits to lower your health plan’s premium. If you do not you may lose your tax credits or have to pay some of them back.
Customers enrolled in a catastrophic health plan will not get a 1095-A.
How do I find my 1095-A?
- Sign into your account.
- Go to the dashboard and click “View 1095 Forms.”
- Or go to your Message Center.
If your 1095-A form is incorrect, fill out a correction request.
What is a 1095-B?
The 1095-B form shows that you were enrolled in Washington Apple Health (Medicaid). You must have been enrolled for one or more months of the last tax year to get one. Your 1095-B will list all household members that were enrolled in Apple Health.
You do not need a 1095-B to file your taxes. You do not need to return it to the Washington Health Care Authority.
How do I find my 1095-B?
- Sign into your account.
- Go to the dashboard and click “View 1095 Forms.”
Create an account if you do not have one to view your 1095-B form.
You can also request your 1095-B from the Washington State Health Care Authority online or over the phone.
- Use the Apple Health contact form.
- Call the Medical Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-562-3022.
Learn more about 1095-B forms on the Washington State Health Care Authority’s website.
What are tax credits?
Why do I have to file taxes?
When you sign up for a health plan, you estimate your next year’s income. This determines the amount of tax credits you receive. If your income or household changes, the amount of tax credits you qualify for changes.
You must file a federal income tax return if you get tax credits. Your 1095-A form states the amount of tax credits you received for that tax year. The IRS requires that you file a return with this form if you received tax credits. You will lose the opportunity to receive tax credits if you do not file.
Visit the IRS website for detailed information about tax credits and filing taxes.
How can I be eligible for tax credits again?
You need to file a tax return if you received tax credits. File your federal taxes with your 1095-A to make sure you can receive them again.
The IRS takes up to 10 weeks to process a tax return. Wait for confirmation that your return has been processed. Then sign into your account and report that you filed your taxes. Follow these steps to do so:
- Click “Report a Change in Income or Household.”
- Select “Yes” to the option “Something else has changed.”
- Review your information and update as needed.
- Submit your application.
- Review your eligibility and click “See If You Qualify.”
You may qualify for special enrollment when you do this. If so, you will be able to apply any tax credits to the health plan you choose.