Open Enrollment is Coming in November! Low-Cost Health Insurance Options are Available for You.

Each year, there is a designated time when anyone can sign up for health insurance and dental insurance plans, change their existing plans, or switch plans altogether. This annual event called Open Enrollment ensures that you have health coverage that fits your needs for the coming year.

Open Enrollment takes place November 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025. During this time, you can explore the various health insurance options that are available to you. It’s a time to evaluate your current healthcare needs and choose a plan that best suits your lifestyle and budget.

Missing the open enrollment period can mean you have to wait until the next year to make changes unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to life events such as marriage, the birth of a child, or loss of other coverage.

BHT offers free assistance with enrolling Washington residents in health insurance.

We have trained health insurance navigators who walk you step-by-step through the enrollment process and answer any questions you have along the way. They provide support during open enrollment periods by helping you explore your options, compare plans, and find coverage that meets your specific needs and budget.


Are you ready to enroll or do you have questions? Let us help you navigate open enrollment.

To meet with a navigator, you can make in-person or virtual appointments. To make an appointment, click the link above, call 509.370.5605, or email BHTNavigatorStaff@betterhealthtogether.org. Translation services are available upon request.

Open Enrollment Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 AM – 6 PM (By Appointment)

Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM (Virtual Appointments Only)

In-person appointments are now available at our new location: 157 South Howard, Suite 300 Spokane, WA 99201

 

BHT Navigator Team

Sara Abbott

She/Her/Hers
Navigator Program Manager
sara@betterhealthtogether.org

Carlinda Jabjulan

She/Her/Hers
COFA Islander Navigator
carlinda@betterhealthtogether.org
Services available in Marshallese

Yvonne Abrahamson

She/Her/Hers
Navigator/Enhanced User
yvonne@betterhealthtogether.org

Income Limit Increasing For Apple Health Pregnancy Programs On November 1, 2024

Senate Bill 5580 is a new law that will help more people access health care during and after pregnancy. Specifically, it raises the income limit for programs like Apple Health for Pregnant Individuals and After-Pregnancy Coverage (APC).

Starting November 1, 2024, more individuals will qualify for these programs because the income limit will increase from 193% to 210% of the federal poverty level. This means that if your income is within this new limit, you’ll be able to get health coverage through Apple Health.

The updated eligibility rules will be available in the Apple Health system starting October 1, 2024. This change aims to provide better access to health care for more pregnant individuals and new parents.


How much can clients earn to qualify?

  • 1 Person Household $2,698 Monthly

  • 2 Person Household $3,662 Monthly

  • 3 Person Household $4,626 Monthly

  • 4 Person Household $5,590 Monthly

  • 5 Person Household $6,554 Monthly

  • 6 Person Household $7,518 Monthly

  • 7 Person Household $8,482 Monthly


Who should apply for Apple Health pregnancy programs?

People who need coverage during or after their pregnancy can apply for these programs to see if they qualify. Individuals previously denied an Apple Health pregnancy program for being over income should reapply.


How to apply


What if someone is not eligible? 

If a client does not qualify and needs health coverage, they may look for other health care coverage options by purchasing a qualified health plan. To apply during special enrollment, visit Washington Healthplanfinder or call Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633.

Introducing the Community Care Hub and our Social Care Network 1.0

Healthcare is so much more than what happens at your doctor  

It’s true! It’s having access to safe and affordable housing to come home to, the access and affordability of healthy food, the community who supports you, and so much more. Our mission at BHT is to improve the health of our region and support the growth of a network of community-based organizations, behavioral health specialists, and healthcare centers that support community needs.  

So, what’s our solution? Meet our Community Care Hub!  

Our goal is to help folks find the unique care that is best for them, whether it be navigating complex health systems, breaking down barriers like language access, or finding vital resources for everyday needs. We connect individuals to a care coordinator at one of our trusted partner organizations who can work with them step-by-step to find the right basic, medical, and lifestyle support for their unique needs, and is with them every step of the way.   

BHT holds contracts with community-based organizations, behavioral health specialists, and healthcare providers to create a network that can connect folks with the right care for them from community representatives that share their culture, language, or beliefs. We uplift those organizations with technical assistance, administrative functions and training, and support their workforce needs to create an integrated system that strengthens our communities. In return, they are able to focus less on worries of consistent funding and grant-writing, and more on serving our communities.

So What is a Community Care Hub?

Watch this short video to learn more!

How it works  

We know from experience our community has unique needs that can’t be served by providing the same care and treatment plan to all without considering diverse lived experience, cultural, and language needs. That’s why we match folks with a care coordinator at one of our trusted partner organizations that is the right fit for them and can help them find the right care path. This helps reduce barriers and duplication of services and takes the burden off the individual to navigate incredibly complex systems of care.  

What it costs 

Our Community Care Hub will be FREE to our regional community! BHT works to braid and integrate funding sources to support community-based organizations and provide a care coordinator match at no cost to individuals. We do the heavy lift of federal contracting and compliance to help reduce barriers for the folks that do the work to keep serving our community.  

Where we are starting: Meet our Social Care Network 1.0

We decided to start small to be able to grow our care system responsibly and with the right infrastructure to support the growing need. We are so excited to introduce the 15 partners we are contracting with for the launch of our Social Care Network:

 


Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a Black-led and Black-centered non-profit, 501c3 organization, based in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. CMC is both a neighborhood cultural center and gathering place, as well as a community based organization that provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane’s African American/Black community.


Health and Justice Recovery Alliance (HJRA) provides a Peer service delivery model that centers the experience of the participant and community in crisis by supporting navigation from crisis to well-being.


Revive is committed to addressing and dismantling systemic racism and all other forms of oppression wherever possible. They are dedicated to educating community and their partners on understanding oppression and internalized oppression. The mission of the Revive Center for Returning Citizens is to empower those impacted by the criminal justice system, advance multi-dimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration and achieve racial justice. We serve and support individuals and families to heal from trauma and reenter society with opportunities and community connections.


Latinos en Spokane is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization centered on supporting citizen participation, culturally-led community development, and empowerment of the Latino and immigrant population in Spokane County. They have centered their efforts on going to the community, listening to needs, building trust, and providing technical support and wrap-around services directly to families navigating the complexities of immigration, education, healthcare, housing, and city resources.


Passages is a licensed outpatient behavioral health clinic that strives to form healthy partnerships with clients by providing recovery support, peer services, therapy, care coordination, psychiatric medication management, Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe), Intensive Residential Treatment, substance use disorder services, and health home programs.


 

 

Peer Spokane cultivates powerful, healthy lives by providing peer emotional support and development services to those impacted by addiction, mental health, and/or HIV/AIDS.


 

 

Spectrum Center’s mission is to create a safe, intersectional, intergenerational, 2SLGBTQIA+ community gathering space that celebrates a resilient, healthy community through social connectedness and support, arts and culture, access to resources, and leadership development.


American Indian Community Center (AICC) was founded in 1967 as a social gathering place for Indian and Native American people who lived in the Spokane area. Since 1967 AICC has become a comprehensive social service agency serving American Indian/Alaskan Natives and all other racial groups by providing Employment and Training Services, which attempts to match programs and resources for the individual client’s needs. We also offer Indian Child Welfare services or families who are in danger of losing their children to Child Protective Services.


Rural Resources: Through education, resources and support, they offer real hope to children, seniors and families, by working to create a stronger and more stable community for us all.  Each year, 14,000 people in Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Whitman and Stevens Counties turn to Rural Resources for short-term assistance and long-term solutions to help them take control of their lives and their futures.


Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center is a regionally recognized community social service center providing comprehensive education, social services and cultural enrichment programs for children and families. It is located in East Central Spokane, one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Spokane County. The Center was created over 40 years ago as a community response to a community need.


 

 

Nuestras Raices is a community center that is committed to increase public awareness and pride in the depth and diversity of Hispanic / Latino culture. Their community center promotes and serves the Hispanic/Latino interest through cultural, business outreach, social justice and wellbeing of our community.​


The ZONE is a collective impact initiative of The Northeast Community Center. Together with residents, schools, and partner organizations, we shine the light on deep disparities in health, education, and economic outcomes, we remove barriers, and we build upon our strengths so all children, youth, and families have opportunities to thrive.


Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) delivers a variety of programs and services to Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens County residents while working with other entities to assess, protect, preserve, and promote the health of the tri-county area.


Frontier Behavioral Health is a nonprofit Trauma-Informed Care organization that provides clinically and culturally appropriate behavioral healthcare and related services to individuals of all ages in collaboration with community partners. They prioritize the delivery of services for individuals and families who are at high risk, high need or publicly funded.


VOA Eastern Washington specializes in providing care to youth and adults with housing-first solutions and low-barrier access to services. For over 125 years, they have been uplifting individuals and communities, helping them to weather life’s storms. Their work touches the mind, body, heart – and ultimately the spirit – of those they serve, integrating their deep compassion with highly effective programs and services. 

Exciting Updates and New Opportunities for the HRSA Community Health Worker Training Program

In the first week of September, we had the privilege to host a delegation of representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from Washington DC. We were given the opportunity to share our Community Health Worker (CHW) initiatives, including our training and apprenticeship programs and our Eastern Wa CHW Network.

In preparation for this meeting and in celebration of the National Community Health Workers Awareness Week, we released interviews highlighting local CHWs as our ‘Everyday Superheroes.’ We shared a digital campaign across various platforms to highlight the small victories and the unfailing courage of our region’s CHWs.   Read more here.

We look forward to the future of our Community Health Worker programming as we work to support and build up community-based care coordination in the region.

Interested in getting involved? There are opportunities for you!

Upcoming Training Cohort

The training for new CHWs consists of a 10-week CHW Core Competency Course provided by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and 3 additional courses supplemented by BHT. Participants will acquire core competencies for CHWs regarding public health and health services that follow state, local, and federal guidelines. The courses are provided quarterly and can be done online and self-paced.

We can’t believe we are getting ready to begin our 7th CHW Training Cohort for those new to the community health field in September! The Winter Training Cohort application will open in early December. For those who are interested in learning more or being on the notification list, please click here.

Upskill Training Opportunities

Our 2nd Upskill Training Cohort ended in August with 5 graduates. These graduates are existing CHWs who received more training in CHW professional skills, public health, and health equity. We are going to be launching the next Upskill application in early October. For those who are interested in learning more or being on the notification list, please click here.

For more information about the community health worker program, please contact Kim Wilson at kim.wilson@betterhealthtogether.org.

The Better Health Together Community Health Worker Training program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $3 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.

Meet Molly – A Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker Awareness Week was held from August 26th to 30th. We’re excited to keep highlighting community health workers from eastern Washington! Discover more about these incredible individuals who are making a real difference through their dedication, compassion, and relentless commitment to enhancing community health.


My name is Molly and I am a Community Health Worker.

How do you define a community health worker?

I define a community health worker as someone local in your community that is a trusted advisor, that is someone that you go to, that is the person who would have the answer or be able to assist in your needs.

How did you know you were a community health worker?

I knew that I was a community health worker because of the CEO of the hospital I worked at. People would start coming to my office and asking me to do this and do that. She came up to me and said, “You’re a community health worker.”

What is it like being a community health worker in your community?

I am, to my knowledge, the only community health worker in the Grand Coulee area. We’re very rural and isolated, with only a few options for any services. Part of being a community health worker is that we build that trust, and they are comfortable telling me things that they don’t tell other people. I know my client’s life. I know their background. I know their abilities, and I help them fill in the gaps.

In a perfect world, what do you see as the future of community health workers in Washington state?

In a perfect world, I would see community health workers in Washington state be a true part of the care team. We still have to explain what we do to some providers. It’s always eye-opening for them. They say, “That is the missing piece.”

How does it make you feel to be able to help someone who didn’t really have hope like that?

To help someone is one of my greatest joys. You feel it from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head, and it just tingles. I’m so glad that I know how to do that. If I didn’t do it, who would?


Learn more about community health worker programming at Better Health Together and how you can get involved!