Individual & Family Cascade Select Plan FAQs

No. All Cascade Select plans offer the same essential health benefits and the same deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. But there may be differences in monthly premiums, provider networks, care management services, and extra benefits.

CHPW Individual & Family Plans focus on a local care network, anchored by the Community Health Center clinics closest to you. We try to keep our premiums affordable. Plus, we’re local, based right here in Washington.

When you call us for additional support, you’re not reaching an out-of-state call center.

You may be eligible for financial help depending on your household income and other factors.

Tax credits* are a federal “premium tax credit” that reduces your monthly premium payments for insurance plans purchased through health insurance marketplaces such as Washington Healthplanfinder. The tax credit is available to individuals and families with incomes between the federal poverty level and 400% of the federal poverty level. You’ll see if you’re eligible for tax credits when you apply for a plan through Healthplanfinder.

Premium savings can come from Cascade Care Savings, a state program that helps reduce the amount you pay monthly. To get these savings, your household income must be under a certain income level (under 250% the federal poverty level). Available only with Gold or Silver plans and immigration status does not impact eligibility.

Cost-sharing reductions mean you could pay less for things such as doctor’s visits, lab tests, and drugs. To qualify, your income must be below 250% of the federal poverty level, and you must choose a Silver-level plan. (American Indians and Alaska Natives can also qualify to get these cost-sharing reductions when they enroll in a Bronze, Silver, or Gold plan.)

*U.S. citizens and individuals who have federally documented immigration status (often described as “lawfully present”) may be eligible to receive premium tax credits. To be eligible for savings from Federal Advanced Premium tax credits, you must meet specific immigration and income requirements.

If you don’t qualify for premium tax credits because of your immigration status, you may still apply and qualify for state savings to reduce cost.

Go to What financial assistance is there for immigrants?

You can sign up during the Open Enrollment period or anytime if something big changes in your life. Like your income, your relationship status, or number of kids.

You can sign up for a CHPW Individual & Family plan through Washington Healthplanfinder. You can also call CHPW for help with the enrollment process. Call 1-833-993-0181 (TTY: 711) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English, no problem, just let us know.

Collectively, our team speaks many languages: Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, and more. 

Across our website, you can choose your preferred language from the drop-down menu at the top, right corner of the page.

When calling, follow the prompts to choose your language.

CHPW offers Cascade Select health plans on Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange, where you can purchase health insurance coverage for you alone or you and your family.

These plans have a standard cost-sharing design across pre-determined levels (Cascade Select Complete Gold, Vital Gold, Silver, and Bronze), meaning they have the same deductible, copay, and coinsurance amounts regardless of the carrier.

CHPW Individual & Family Plans provide affordable coverage for health care services centered around Community Health Center clinics in neighborhoods across Washington. In several counties, CHPW plans are among the lowest-cost options available.

Cascade Select plans are designed for Washingtonians who cannot get coverage through their job or do not qualify for other health insurance programs like Apple Health (Medicaid) or Medicare. 

To be eligible, you must live in a county where CHPW Individual & Family plans are offered. Visit our Eligibility page for more details.

The annual open enrollment period is November 1 through January 15. For coverage starting January 1, enroll by December 15.

Certain life changes or special circumstances may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period outside of the open enrollment period. See the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WAHBE) website for more information on Special Enrollment Periods and qualifying events.

If you qualify for Apple Health (Medicaid) you can enroll any time of year. 

Your Primary Care Provider will assist you in obtaining a health plan approved referral to an appropriate Out-of-Network Provider. When you obtain a referral and it has been approved by CHPW, you can obtain Out-of-Network benefits at the Network benefit level.

Find out more about prior-authorization for non-network specialist visits.

Cascade Care is legislation that created new, affordable health insurance coverage options for Washington residents. The options are available through Washington Healthplanfinder, the online marketplace operated by the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (WAHBE).

Cascade Select is a type of “public option” health insurance plan under Cascade Care. Cascade Select plans are offered by Qualified Health Plans such as Community Health Plan of Washington under a contract with the Health Care Authority.

Cascade Select Gold, Silver, and Bronze are what’s referred to as “metal” categories for health plans offered through Washington Healthplanfinder. The main difference among them is whether you want to pay less at the time you receive care, or whether you prefer to pay a lower monthly premium.

New in 2026, there are two types of Gold plans, Vital Gold and Complete Gold.

Metal categories have nothing to do with quality of care. Plans in all categories provide free preventive care, and cover many health services before you meet your deductible.

View plan details.

Anyone living in Washington can apply for health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder*, the state’s online marketplace for health insurance. When you apply, Healthplanfinder checks which types coverage you and your family may qualify for and what savings are available.

Open Enrollment November 1 to January 15
This is the one time of year when anyone can sign up for a CHPW Individual & Family Cascade Select plan or make changes to their current coverage.

You may be eligible for a CHPW Individual & Family plan if you:

• Live in Washington, in one of the counties CHPW serves.
• Are not currently eligible for an Apple Health (Medicaid) plan.

If you sign up for a plan by December 31, 2026, your coverage will begin on January 1, 2027.

If you sign up for a plan between January 1 – January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1, 2027.

Outside of these Open Enrollment dates, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if you meet certain conditions (such as losing other coverage).

*You may need to work with a navigator to complete your enrollment and find out what savings you are eligible for.

Recent changes to federal law (H.R. 1) are updating eligibility rules for federal health programs and tax credits. Among the changes, the new rules will:

• Limit who can receive federal Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) when buying a private health plan, such as a CHPW Individual & Family Cascade Select plan, starting January 1, 2027.
• Change which immigrant groups qualify for Apple Health (Medicaid), starting October 1, 2026.

Federal tax credits can lower your monthly insurance premiums when you buy a health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder. Beginning January 1, 2027, these credits will only be available to the following immigrant groups who meet all income and other eligibility requirements:

• Green card holders (Lawful Permanent Residents) who have met, or are exempt from, the 5-year waiting period
• Cuban/Haitian immigrants
• COFA migrants (from Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau)

Most other noncitizens—including DACA recipients, undocumented immigrants, and many humanitarian parolees—will not qualify for federal subsidies.

Washington State has its own financial assistance program called Cascade Care Savings. Eligible individuals may qualify regardless of immigration status.

Cascade Care Savings lowers monthly premiums for individuals and families making at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

To receive these state savings, you must enroll in a Cascade Select Gold or Silver plan through Washington Healthplanfinder and meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

A: Possibly. Losing federal tax credits means you may pay more out of pocket for your monthly premium. However, Washington’s Cascade Care Savings program can significantly lower premiums for eligible households making at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.

Yes. Losing coverage triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You will have 60 days to sign up for a private health plan—such as a CHPW Individual & Family Cascade Select plan—through Washington Healthplanfinder.

Yes. Anyone living in Washington can continue to safely shop for, buy, and enroll in a plan through Washington Healthplanfinder, regardless of immigration status.

No. You can still apply for a CHPW plan through Washington Healthplanfinder even if you do not have an SSN. When filling out the application, you can leave the SSN field blank if it does not apply to you.

Depending on the coverage you are applying for, you may be asked to provide additional information to determine your eligibility.

Some state programs provide no-cost health care for individuals with certain health needs or who are under 18, if they meet the program’s eligibility rules:

• Medical Care Services (MCS)
• Emergency Medical (AEM)
• Apple Health for Pregnant Individuals
• After Pregnancy Care (APC)
• Apple Health for Kids
• Apple Health Expansion (currently at full enrollment)

You can still get health insurance if you do not meet the requirements for these Apple Health programs.

Anyone can buy Individual and Family plans on Washington Healthplanfinder regardless of immigration status. You may qualify for state savings if your household income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and you meet the program’s other eligibility requirements.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) treat everyone regardless of immigration status and offer sliding‑scale fees based on income.

Health insurance is an agreement between an individual and an insurance company. The insurance company agrees to pay for certain medical services and the individual agrees to pay a monthly fee (premium) and cost-shares.

This agreement gives the individual more access to health care and emergency care at a much lower price, than they would pay without the health insurance plan. And it removes financial risk.

Some health insurance plans are part of state funded or federally funded programs, that help pay the monthly cost, or premium, for the individual.

There are other costs and terms you will see. Cost-share, deductible, and coinsurance are all ways that insurance companies describe how much they will pay towards a service.

These are different for each health plan. And, for plans like Apple Health (Medicaid) these costs are low (or $0).

Health insurance is an investment that protects you now and in the future. It gives you important financial security in case you have a serious accident or sickness. It can help you avoid medical emergencies, ER visits, and expensive medical bills.

When you have a health plan, you can see the same doctors for routine checkups and when you need care. They can also help you prevent serious illness by monitoring your health over time.

Many people do not know how much medical care can cost without a health insurance plan:

• Fixing a broken leg: Up to $7,500
• 3-day hospital stay: $30,000 on average
• Cancer care: $100,000’s +

In general, health insurance helps you pay for:

• Routine doctor visits.
• Hospital stays and surgeries.
• Prescription medications and
• Screenings to detect serious health complications like cancer.
• Treatment for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions.
• Urgent care and emergency room visits.
• Pregnancy care, and more.

The Health Benefit Exchange or Marketplace is an online store where people in the U.S. shop for and buy health plans.

It was built to protect people from expensive health insurance. It also ensures all the health insurance plans being sold offer fair benefits and quality care.

If you live in Washington state, the Health Benefit Exchange or Marketplace you would use to buy a health plan is called Washington Healthplanfinder.

The total cost ranges based on where you live, your age, your income, your family size and the type of plan you choose. Savings and financial help may be available to reduce your costs based on your income and family size.   

Each person’s situation is different. We are here to help you understand the cost, the commitment, and possible savings. For more information on how much you will pay and what types of plans you are eligible for, contact us at 1-833-993-0181 (TTY 771), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Language assistance services are available.

You must sign up through Washington Healthplanfinder. You can do that on your own, with CHPW, or someone else can help you. During the process, you’ll be asked for information about you and your family to find out which plan might be best for you and to check for savings.  

There are a few ways you can enroll through Healthplanfinder:

• Call Washington Healthplanfinder 1-855-923-4633 TTY/TDD 1-855-627-9604 or visit wahealthplanfinder.org
• Connect with a health navigator at your local community health center.
• Schedule a call with a friendly, local plan specialist who speaks your language, or give us a call and we will help you with the process over the phone. Call us at 1-833-993-0181  (TTY 711), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or request a call back.

We are here for you. We are available to answer your questions, talk to you about your options and help with the application process.

One of our local plan specialists would be happy to chat with you over the phone at 1-833-993-0181 (TTY 771), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Unfortunately, no, not at this time. But starting January 1, 2026, CHPW’s Individual & Family Cascade Select Bronze plan will be an HSA-eligible plan, also called a “high-deductible health plan” (HDHP). Meaning, you can use a qualified HSA you get outside of CHPW, with your CHPW Individual & Family Bronze Plan in 2026.

If you have a Bronze plan and you want to open an HSA, contact your bank, credit union, or a tax accountant. They can give you more information about your options.

Visit Healthcare.gov for additional information about HSA-eligible plans, how they work, or how to set up an HSA.

An HSA is a savings account that helps you pay for qualified medical expenses. You can use the money for deductibles, copays, prescriptions, and other out-of-pocket health care costs. Unlike some other savings accounts, the money in an HSA rolls over from year to year. And, you can still access those funds —even if you change health insurance plans.

Starting January 2026, some plans on Washington Healthplanfinder will be HSA-eligible.

To get an HSA you must:

• Be enrolled in a Bronze plan or another high-deductible plan (HDHP).
• Not have other disqualifying coverage, like health insurance that isn’t an HDHP through a spouse or partner.  
• Not be enrolled in Medicare.
• Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.