Section 1332 Waiver Information
Starting Nov. 1, 2023, people without a federally recognized immigration status who live in Washington can purchase a non-federally subsidized qualified health plan (QHP) and qualified dental plan (QDP) from Washington Healthplanfinder. Approximately 23% of Washington’s uninsured population is newly eligible to purchase a QHP or QDP coverage under the Section 1332 waiver, which waived the federal definition of "lawfully present" under the Affordable Care Act.
Highlights of implementation activities
- Post Award Public Forum from Apr. 8, 2024 (recording | slides)
- Written public comments will also be accepted by email until 5 p.m. on April 18, 2024. To submit an optional written comment, please send an email to [email protected] with “annual public forum comment” in subject line.
- Pre-Launch Webinar from Sept. 7, 2023 (recording | )
Section 1332 Waiver approval
Washington’s 1332 Waiver was approved Dec. 9, 2022 for a five-year period — 2024-2029.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Exchange Press Release: New first-in-kind federal waiver aims to improve access for uninsured Washingtonians (Dec. 9, 2022)
To receive updates about the Exchange’s Section 1332 Waiver activities, sign up to receive email notifications.
Section 1332 Waiver application materials
- Washington Section 1332 Waiver Application (Includes state public comment materials)
- Washington Section 1332 Waiver Application handout
- (Includes federal public comment materials)
- Public comment meeting materials
- Public comment meeting materials - Spanish
- Notice of Start of State Public Comment Period
- Tribal Consultation meeting materials
- Dear Tribal Letters
What is a Section 1332 Waiver?
Section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) permits a state to apply for a State Innovation Waiver (also referred to as section 1332 waiver) to pursue innovative strategies for providing residents with access to high quality, affordable health insurance while retaining the basic protections of the ACA. State Innovation Waivers are approved for up to five-year periods and can be extended.
Section 1332 waivers are subject to approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Treasury (the Departments). For a Section 1332 waiver to be approved, the Departments must determine that the waiver will provide coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the coverage provided without the waiver; provide coverage and cost-sharing protections against excessive out-of-pocket spending that are at least as affordable as without the waiver; provide coverage to at least a comparable number of residents as without the waiver; and not increase the federal deficit.