Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 35 resources
General information
How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help With Medical Bills?
This publication explains what types of health care coverage are offered by the state for those in need.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington Basic Health Plan
(Separate Website)
Information on how to apply for the Basic Health plan, the waiting list, and how much it will cost if and when you qualify.
By: Washington State Health Care Authority
Northwest Health Law Advocates Web Site
(Separate Website)
The NOHLA web site contains information on the Basic Health Plan, health insurance for Washington residents, Charity Care, and rural health care.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
SHIBA HelpLine - Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors
(Separate Website)
The Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) HelpLine is a special service of the Insurance Commissioner's Office that provides free health-insurance education, assistance, and advocacy for all Washington residents, including seniors and the disabled, in hundreds of communities around the state. SHIBA HelpLine volunteers and staff assist consumers with choices and problems involving private health insurance as well as many government programs (Medicare, Medicaid, Basic Health Plan, Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Washington State Health Insurance Pool). SHIBA HelpLine volunteers also are experts in Medigap coverage, employment-related health benefits, managed care, long-term care insurance, medical billings and fraud/abuse questions.
By: WA State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
Prescription Medication - Rx Assistance
(Separate Website)
Provides information for those needing help paying for prescription medication.
ParentHelp123.org Benefit Finder
(Separate Website)
Using the Benefit Finder, families can learn if they may be eligible for free and low-cost health insurance and food assistance, and then complete their program applications on-line!
By: WithinReach
DSHS Apple Health for Kids Medical Programs
Medical programs in Washington provide full medical and dental coverage for children whose families have incomes up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Read this publication to find out who qualifies.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Basic Health Plus - Medical Coverage for Children
(Separate Website)
Basic Health Plus is a Medicaid program for children in qualified households. If you are eligible for Basic Health your children may be eligible for Basic Health Plus. They must be under age 19 and U.S. citizens or legal residents who arrived in the U.S. on or before August 22 1996. If your children are not living in your household you may be able to enroll them in Basic Health but not Basic Health Plus.
By: DSHS
Your Rights Under Healthy Options
Healthy Options is the name of the Medicaid "managed care" program offered by the Department of Social and Health Services. Under Healthy Options you are enrolled in a health plan, such as Group Health, Regence Blue Shield, or CHPW.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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Good News! The Children's Health Care Program is back in 2006 Medical coverage for children of low-income familes is available.
By: Healthy Kids Now!
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QMB, SLMB, QI-1, and QDWI Programs: Help with Medicare Premiums, Deductibles
Some people who get Medicare can qualify for help in paying the premiums and deductibles in the Medicare program. Qualifying for this help depends on your income and resources. If you have low income, you may be a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or a Special Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB).
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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Medicaid for Adults 65 and Older or Disabled Who Don't Get SSI
The Medically-Needy (MN) program helps pay medical expenses for certain people who are 65 or older, and for certain younger disabled people. It's a program for people who don't get Medicaid coverage that comes with a cash grant from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), General Assistance, or another public assistance program.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Questions and Answers on the COPES Program
COPES is a program that pays for personal care and other services for people in their own homes. COPES also pays for care in adult family homes, adult residential care facilities, and assisted living facilities. It is designed to help people who, without COPES, would need to be in nursing homes.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Questions and Answers on Medicaid for Nursing Home Residents
Medicaid is a government program that pays for medical services including nursing home care. It is administered by DSHS -- the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
To receive Medicaid payment for nursing home care, you must meet the financial eligibility requirements described in this publication. Also, you must need the care provided in a nursing home.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Estate Recovery for Medical Services Paid for by the State
The state has many programs that pay for medical services. The Medicaid program is one example. Under some of these programs and with important limitations, the estate recovery law allows the state to recover (to be paid back) the cost of the services it pays for.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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General Assistance Denial for Medical Reasons
7111EN - The General Assistance (GA, formerly GAU) program provides income and medical coverage if you are a citizen or eligible immigrant, you have income and resources within Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) rules, and you are "incapacitated." Incapacitated means you are unable to work due to physical or mental conditions (or both) that are expected to last at least 90 days.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight Your GAU Termination Due to Medical Improvement
When you start getting General Assistance Unemployable (GAU) benefits, the local Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) welfare office uses the medical evidence that proves you are incapacitated (unable to work) to decide how soon they should review your case. After the review, they may send you a letter saying that they will terminate (stop) your benefits. This publication tells you what you can do if you disagree with their decision.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Questions and Answers on Living Wills A living will is a paper that tells your doctors or others providing your health care when you want them to stop life-sustaining medical treatment and let you die. A health care power of attorney allows someone you appoint to make medical-treatment decisions for you if you are no longer able to make them yourself. This publication contains general information and a Living Will form you may download.
By: Columbia Legal Services
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Benefits CheckUp
(Separate Website)
BenefitsCheckUp helps thousands every day to find programs for people ages 55 and over that may pay for some of their costs of prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other essential items or services. Please fill out our simple questionnaire to find programs that can assist you or your loved ones.
By: National Council on the Aging
Charity Care: Medical Coverage for Hospital-Based Medical Services This publication is intended to answer common questions about the medical coverage program called "Charity Care"; the legal authority for this program is set forth in R.C.W. Ch. 70.170 and WAC Ch. 246-453 which should be available in your local library or on the internet. For information on other programs of medical coverage that may be available to low-income persons in the state of Washington see our publication How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help with Medical Bills?
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Present a Charity Care Defense to a Lawsuit for Hospital Debt Collection
This packet is intended to help you when you are being sued for hospital-based medical services which you would not owe if the hospital had correctly determined your eligibility for Charity Care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Applying for Public Assistance
Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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What Are My Rights? Dealing with DSHS
This publication lists services available by DSHS and your rights when dealing with this state agency.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accomodations
If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, GAU, Medicaid, or food assistance, DSHS must accommodate your disabilities. This means that DSHS must try to make their services and benefits available to you to the same extent that they are available to people without a disability.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Fight a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance
This publication explains your rights if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance
7102EN - This publication explains your rights if the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) tells you that it will stop or cut back the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for a fair hearing soon, usually within 10 days of being mailed written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How To Fight an Overpayment of Cash Assistance, Medical Assistance or Food Stamps
An overpayment occurs when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to DSHS rules. DSHS gets the benefits back by charging you with an overpayment. This publication provides info on the types of overpayments and what you can do if you disagree.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
If you don't agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for a fair hearing.
This publication tells you about 1) the deadline to request a fair hearing, 2) how to make the re-quest, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
If you receive an overpayment notice from DSHS telling you that you owe them money or food stamps because they gave you benefits they should not have given you, and the overpayment was through no fault of yours, you should ask for a fair hearing because there is a legal defense against the overpayment. You must ask for the fair hearing within 90 days of the date of the overpayment notice. The notice will say the overpayment was unintentionally caused and will say you are required to repay it, but will not tell you that there is a legal defense against it. Read this publication to find out about an Equitable Estoppel defense.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Petition for Superior Court Review
If you disagree with the final fair hearing decision, you may appeal your case to a state Superior Court. The appeal is called a "Petition for Judicial Review of an Administrative Decision." Your appeal can be filed in either the Superior Court of the county where you live or in Thurston County Superior Court in Olympia.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Exception to Rule (ETR) DSHS Programs
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is able to give you some types of benefits even if you don't meet all of the requirements. This is called an "exception to a rule" or "ETR". DSHS considers ETR requests on a case-by-case basis and approves requests only in limited circumstances.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Information about WA Basic Health and Charity Care Programs
(Separate Website)
Information about the Basic Health and Charity Care programs in Washington State.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
Navigating DSHS: A Road Map to Programs and Services
(Separate Website)
A 16 page guide describing the various program available through DSHS.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Web Site
(Separate Website)
Information from the government about citizenship and all the necessary forms.
By: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Washington Medical Coverage: State and Federal Programs
(Separate Website)
Information about government health programs for adults, children and senior citizens.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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