Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Washington. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
Apple Health (Medicaid) in Washington
Apple Health is Washington's Medicaid program; for people 65 and older or with Medicare it's called Apple Health Classic Medicaid.
It can pay health costs Medicare doesn't, either as full coverage or through spenddown if your income is over the limit, and Apple Health Long-Term Services covers in-home or residential care for people who need help with personal care. You apply through Washington Connection, at a DSHS Community Services Office, or on paper.
How to apply in Washington
- Online
- washingtonconnection.org
- In person
- At a local DSHS Community Services Office.
- By mail
- Complete and return the Application for aged, blind, disabled or long-term care health coverage (form 18-005).
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Washington
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $994 a month (the SSI level) | $1,491 a month (the SSI level) Source: KFF (source 2) |
| Savings limit (2026) | $2,000 | $3,000 Source: KFF (source 2) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | Yes: Apple Health Classic Medicaid can be full coverage or spenddown coverage for people whose income is over the limit |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month (300% of the SSI amount) Source: KFF (source 2) |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | Yes: Washington expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under 65 Source: KFF (source 3) |
How Washington is different
Where Washington's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Spenddown available for people over the income limit
- In-home or residential long-term care through Apple Health Long-Term Services
Free help
Free help with this in Washington
Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Washington
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Washington State Health Care Authority, Age 65 and older or Medicare eligible (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) in 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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