Washington Health Insurance in 2026

Washington Healthplanfinder sells Cascade Care Select public-option plans with standardized benefits, and the state adds premium assistance for residents up to 250% of the poverty level. Medicaid is branded Apple Health.

Where you enroll. Washington runs its own marketplace, Washington Healthplanfinder, rather than using HealthCare.gov. That means the state sets its own Open Enrollment deadline (January 15 for 2027 coverage) and can add its own programs on top of the federal subsidies.

Medicaid vs. subsidies. Because Washington expanded Medicaid, adults up to about 138% of the federal poverty level generally qualify for Apple Health at little or no cost. Above that line, you shop subsidized Marketplace plans — the calculator above shows which side of the line you're on.

The biggest lever on your Washington premium is the ACA premium tax credit. It caps what you pay for a benchmark silver plan at a percentage of your income — the lower your income, the larger the credit — and the government pays the rest directly to your insurer.

If your income is under about 250% of the poverty level, look at Silver plans first: they come with cost-sharing reductions that shrink your deductible and copays, which no other tier gets. Our guide to Bronze vs. Silver vs. Gold walks through it.

One important change for 2026: the enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expired unless renewed, so the “400% cliff” may return for higher earners. That makes comparing plans with a licensed Washington agent more valuable than ever. Prefer to read up first? Start with our ACA health insurance overview or the subsidy calculator.