YAKIMA, Wash. – Starting next year anyone in Washington can have health insurance regardless of their immigration status. That means from November
Yakima Resident Tracy Marlow met her husband online. She said after having a long-distance relationship for a while he was consistently visiting the U.S. from Guatemala to see her using a tourist visa.
During those visits to the U.S., sometimes lasting six months at a time, she said, being without health insurance was a challenge. It meant he was unable to schedule dentist and doctor visits in the country according to Marlow.
“You know in an emergency condition he could still go to the emergency room, but like I said before any type of follow-up care would be difficult, and he has had to go to the emergency room here,” she said.
She said visits like that without insurance are expensive.
The couple got married in May and while he has started the green card process, he still hasn’t been able to get health insurance this year.
“We weren’t sure if he has to wait until after the green card process or if he’s eligible now,” Marlow said.
He may be able to get insurance before he finishes that process according to Alex Cordova a representative with Washington Healthplanfinder.
“Starting for 2024 if you have no papers your residency status doesn’t matter, you’re able to apply for insurance,” Cordova said.
Washington health-plan-finder is on a tour, visiting different cities throughout Washington to let people know how to sign up and let people know about the change.
He said some people who are undocumented are hesitant to work with them.
“Yes, there is some hesitation because of their immigration status, but we give them information. We do not report their legal status to immigration, everything stays local, everything is private,” Cordova said.
Marlow said for now she’s working on the process with her husband to see if he can get insurance set up for next year with or without the green card being completed.
“I’m just glad to find out that he might be able to get services, so that would be good, it would give us both peace of mind to have insurance and access to health care,” Marlow said.
