Home > Families > Health Insurance

Health Insurance for Your Family

Need Health Insurance? Go and Check your eligibility and apply for programs

It is important to have regular medical care for your children and for yourself. Washington State provides free and low cost health insurance to low-income children and families.

For Children

Children’s Health Insurance

Free and low cost health insurance is available for children in Washington State through the Medicaid and S-CHIP programs. This insurance provides medical, dental, vision and mental health benefits, with no deductibles or co-pays. Coverage may be free for lower-income families. The program is available for both citizen and non-citizen children.

  • To see if you qualify and to apply, use the Benefit Finder, or call the Family Health Hotline 1-800-322-2588.

Father hold child in the air while both smile

For Families

Pregnancy Medicaid Insurance

The First Steps Program provides free health insurance (pregnancy Medicaid) for pregnant women. It provides medical, dental and vision benefits. There are no deductibles or co-pays. First Steps can also provide social services to help you have a healthy pregnancy.

  • To see if you qualify and to apply, use the Benefit Finder, or call the Family Health Hotline 1-800-322-2588.

Family Medical

Family Medical is a program of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that provides free medical, dental and vision coverage (Medicaid) to very limited income families with dependent children under the age of 18 and living in the home.

Basic Health

Basic Health is a low cost health insurance program for low-income Washington State residents. Currently there is a waiting list for this program.

Washington Health Program – NEW

Washington Health is a new program offered by Basic Health. It is another option for affordable and reliable health insurance with fewer restrictions and low costs. If you live in Washington, you and your family may qualify for the Washington Health Program. This unique program offers multiple levels of health insurance coverage. Members maintain low deductibles with coverage for basic health services such as routine office visits, immunizations, preventive screenings and more.

Additional health services available for WA residents:

Low-cost Community Clinics

Some clinics provide medical care to individuals without health insurance at reduced cost, called a sliding scale fee. These clinics provide good care, but the amount you pay may be less if you have less money coming in. To find a low-cost clinic:

  • Call the Family Health Hotline 1-800-322-2588
  • Use the Resource Finder – click the Community & Low Cost Clinics link.

Prescription Assistance

Washington State offers two prescription assistance programs to help you pay for some or all of the cost of your medicine.

  • Rx Help for WA is a program that helps low-income, uninsured Washington residents get free or discounted medicines. Learn more about the program. You can also call 1-877-923-6779.

Family Planning/Birth Control

You and your partner may be eligible to receive free birth control through a program called Take Charge.

  • Call the Family Planning/Take Charge Hotline at 1-800-770-4334 to see if you may qualify for this program.

Advice about Private Insurance (SHIBA Program)

You may be able to purchase a private health insurance plan for yourself or your child. To learn more about health insurance options, contact the WA State Insurance Commissioner’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA Program):