Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 88 resources
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Basic rights of all health care consumers
The Health Care Reform Lawsuit: A Primer for Washington Residents In March 2010, Congress passed landmark legislation to reform our health care system. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as the "Affordable Care Act" or "ACA," aims to achieve near universal health coverage, slow the growth of health care costs and insurance premiums, and end the discriminatory insurance practices that long prevented many from obtaining health coverage.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
Your Right to Keep Your Medical Records Private
Except in very limited circumstances, your health care provider may only disclose your health care information to another person upon your written consent.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Right to Examine and Obtain Copies of Your Medical Records
You have a right, under almost all circumstances, to examine and obtain copies of your medical file. Your health care provider must also explain any abbreviations or codes used in your medical records.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Right to Correct Inaccurate Information in your Health Care File
You have the right to correct or amend your medical records for accuracy and completeness. You may correct any medical records you have a right to examine and copy.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Providing Health Care to Minors Under Washington Law A summary of health care services that can be provided to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Your Right to be Fully Informed of the Nature of Proposed Medical Treatment Before You Consent
Under the doctrine of "informed consent," you have a right to be given sufficient information to make an intelligent decision regarding your medical care. This is because you have the right to decide what happens to your body.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Your Health Care Rights if You're Under Eighteen
This publication outlines what health care services you may receive without the consent of a parent or guardian.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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A Guide to Washington's Medical Marijuana Law
(Separate Website)
Information for patients, caregivers, doctors, and the public regarding medical marijuana use in Washington State.
By: ACLU
AIDS, The Law and You Questions and answers relating to housing, estate-planning, probate, employment, immigration and more for individuals who are HIV positive.
By: KCBA Volunteer Legal Services
Questions and Answers on Medicaid for Nursing Home Residents 5170EN - 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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Spanish / Español
Getting medical coverage and help with medical bills
SSI Medicaid "Healthy Options" Project Begins -- Summer 2012 Medicaid clients who are Disabled or Blind, and who do NOT receive Medicare, will be enrolled in mandatory managed care plans beginning July 2012.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Questions and Answers on Medicaid for Nursing Home Residents 5170EN - 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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Spanish / Español
The Medically Needy "Spenddown" Program: 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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Spanish / Español
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
Charity Care: Medical Coverage for Hospital-Based Medical Services 5909EN - "Charity Care" is a program established by state law. It requires hospitals to provide medical care for free or at a reduced cost if you cannot pay fully for the services you have gotten. Charity Care covers health care services you get from a hospital, including inpatient and outpatient care.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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DOCX File
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Guide to Finding Health Insurance Coverage
(Separate Website)
If you are looking for medical coverage, this guide can help point the way.
By: Let's Get America Covered
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Help With Medical Bills for Immigrants without Legal Immigration Status 8144EN - Describes what programs are available and who is eligible for medical bill help.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Spanish / Español
Help With Prescription Drug Costs
(Separate Website)
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help if they have limited income and resources. The extra help can increase their cost savings by paying for part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new prescription drug program. The extra help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year.
By: Social Security Online
How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help With Medical Bills? 5905EN - 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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Russian / Pусский
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
Paying for Prescription Drugs
(Separate Website)
This booklet is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health coverage. It offers information about various prescription drug programs and plans, such as Medicare, individual health insurance plans, prescription discount cards, disease- and disability-related programs, free and low-cost programs, public health programs, buying online, and more.
By: SHIBA Helpline
Prescription Medication - Rx Assistance
(Separate Website)
Provides information for those needing help paying for prescription medication.
Questions and Answers on the COPES Program 5102EN - 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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Spanish / Español
The Medicine Program: When You Can't Afford Your Medicine
(Separate Website)
If you qualify, this program will help you obtain prescription medicine at no cost.
By: The Medicine Program
The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State
(Separate Website)
The Calculator can help you: plan and develop career goals so you can work towards a better paying job; decide if a job you are considering will pay enough to meet your family's needs; determine if you might be eligible for public benefits that can help with expenses like health care or child care; test and compare different work or living options and see how they affect your bottom line.
By: Workforce Development Councils of Washington State
Understanding Basic Health
(Separate Website)
Details from DSHS about the Basic Health Care Program.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Understanding the New Washington Health Program Washington Health Program (WHP) is a new health insurance plan offered by the Washington Health Care Authority starting July 2010. Unlike the Basic Health program, WHP is not subsidized by the state. You get care through the Community Health Plan of Washington, a managed care organization. You must be a Washington resident (citizen/immigrant status not required). You may not receive Basic Health or DSHS medical coverage while on WHP, and you may not be eligible for Medicare.
By: Northwest Health Law Advocates
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
Applying for Public Assistance
7903EN - Information about the application process to receive public assistance.
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
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
Do I Qualify for DSHS Services?
(Separate Website)
Find out what benefits you may quality for.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
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DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accomodations
If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, Disability Lifeline, 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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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
Other Formats:
PDF File
Help With Prescription Drug Costs
(Separate Website)
Medicare beneficiaries are eligible for the extra help if they have limited income and resources. The extra help can increase their cost savings by paying for part of the monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments under the new prescription drug program. The extra help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year.
By: Social Security Online
How Can I Get Medical Coverage or Help With Medical Bills? 5905EN - This publication explains what types of health care coverage are offered by the state for those in need.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
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
7104EN - An overpayment happens when you receive benefits you are not eligible for according to Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) rules.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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How to Petition for Superior Court Review
7917EN - 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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PDF File
How to Present an Equitable Estoppel Defense at a DSHS Hearing
7912EN - 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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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
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
Paying for Prescription Drugs
(Separate Website)
This booklet is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health coverage. It offers information about various prescription drug programs and plans, such as Medicare, individual health insurance plans, prescription discount cards, disease- and disability-related programs, free and low-cost programs, public health programs, buying online, and more.
By: SHIBA Helpline
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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PDF File
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Questions and Answers on the COPES Program 5102EN - 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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Spanish / Español
Representing Yourself at a Fair Hearing
7910EN - If you do not 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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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
Understanding Basic Health
(Separate Website)
Details from DSHS about the Basic Health Care Program.
By: Department of Social and Health Services
Understanding Your CARE Tool Assessment This publication explains how to read the Comprehensive Assessment Reporting Evaluation (CARE) document called Assessment Details. If you have not had an assessment yet this booklet will give you an idea about what to expect. During your assessment a case manager asks you questions about the help you need. That information is used to determine what services you can receive. This includes personal care hours and nursing services.
By: Northwest Justice Project
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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