Apple Health Expansion enrollment cap

Apple Health Expansion enrollment update – December 2025

Enrollment for Apple Health Expansion is currently closed. The Health Care Authority (HCA) partnered closely with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and Governor Ferguson in its development and submission of a supplemental budget for the 2026 legislative session.

Recently passed federal legislation (H.R.1) will significantly impact Washingtonians in the coming years and may result in many people losing health care coverage. While these changes are being made the state will not be opening enrollment into Apple Health Expansion.

Governor Ferguson’s budget includes a proposal that would seek to preserve as much coverage as possible in the face of state budgetary pressures, significant federal funding reduction to health care, and the need to protect sensitive data.

To do so, the 2026 supplemental budget proposal:

  • Continues to provide state funds to support the Apple Health Expansion program for currently enrolled clients.
  • Limits new enrollment into current Apple Health Expansion program.
  • In partnership with other state agencies, directs HCA to develop a new limited benefit program to support certain uninsured individuals, including existing Apple Health Expansion enrollees, immigrants without documentation status, those lawfully present that will lose coverage due to H.R. 1, and others no longer eligible for Medicaid or individual market coverage, such as deferred action for childhood arrival (DACA) recipients.
    • The exact number served through this program will depend upon final benefit design. Clients enrolled in the current Apple Health Expansion program would be transitioned into this new benefit. 

More information

Apple Health Expansion

Visit the Apple Health Expansion webpage to learn about eligibility, benefits, and services and stay up to date on changes.

Upcoming federal changes

If any program changes are adopted from H.R.1, HCA will work closely with community and clients to develop and implement these changes.

Visit our H.R.1 impacts webpage (for stakeholders) and our Changes coming to Apple Health webpage (for clients) to learn more.