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COVID-19 and Health News

WA Health Plan Expansion for DACA Recipients

People with certain immigration statuses now qualify for more savings

Due to a recent federal change, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other people with qualifying immigration statuses can now access increased federal savings through Washington HealthplanfinderTM as of Nov. 1, 2024. These savings significantly lower costs for most — many customers can find a health plan for less than $10 per month.

Who qualifies? Immigration statuses include:

  • DACA recipients

  • Valid nonimmigrant visa-holders

  • People with a pending application for adjustment of status

  • People granted employment authorization

  • Family Unity Program beneficiaries

  • Special Immigrant Juveniles with approved petitions

  • Certain asylum applicants under age 14

How can someone get their new savings?

Any household member affected by the recent change needs to select “Yes” to the question, “Is this household member lawfully present in the U.S.?” in their Washington Healthplanfinder application. Those who may be affected (current customers and people who recently applied to Washington Healthplanfinder) were notified of the change in their preferred language. Assisters are also reaching out to people with qualified statuses who they previously helped.

To sign up for coverage or update an existing application:

  1. Contact a trained, trusted local assister by visiting Washington Healthplanfinder’s “Support in Your Area” page to find help.

  2. Call Washington Healthplanfinder’s Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633 (TTY/TDD: 1-855-627-9604). Language assistance is available in more than 200 languages.

  3.  Go online; visit wahealthplanfinder.org.
     

When does someone need to act to get these savings?

  • People who sign-up or update their application by Oct. 15, will have coverage with the additional savings starting Nov. 1. If they act by Nov. 15, coverage with the additional savings will start Dec. 1.

    • An existing special enrollment period is available for people who gain citizenship/lawfully presence. (Enter 11/1/2024, as date gained.)

  • People can also sign up or update their application during open-enrollment (Nov. 1–Jan. 15).

    • People who sign up or update their application by Dec. 15 will have coverage with the additional savings starting Jan. 1.

    • People who sign up or update their application by Jan. 15, will have coverage with the additional savings starting Feb. 1.

December Health Updates

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Check out national and state health updates above! We cover:

  • Updated COVID-19 vaccine for 2024-2025

  • Expanded Access to Women's Health Program

  • The US commitment to addressing the global Monkeypox outbreak

  • Report food borne illness to Washington State's Foodborne Illness Notification System

  • Expanded access to health care for DACA recipients through Washington Healthplanfinder

  • Apply to APCC's Capacity Building HEAL Grant

For more information, visit cdc.govdoh.wa.gov, or whitehouse.gov.

Monkeypox Phoneline and Updates

Have any questions related to the Monkeypox Virus (MPV)? People across Washington can now call 1-833-829-HELP to get their questions answered! Language assistance is available in 240 languages. Please see more details about the resource here.

For additional information about the Monkeypox virus, to access frequently asked questions (FAQS) and to keep up to date with case count,  please visit the DOH MPV webpage available in English or Spanish. The webpage will soon be available in Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Somali, Korean, Tagalog, Arabic, Punjabi, Cambodian and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).

The CDC website on Monkeypox also lists ways that it can be spread, signs and symptoms, and what to do if you are sick. Visit the site here.

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Getting Our Booster Shots for Better Health

COVID-19 Updates

For the latest information on the available COVID vaccine clinics for Thurston County visit:

AANHPI language vaccine videos presented by Crossing TV

Oral Therapeutics

Swipe through for more languages!

Language Based Covid Resources and Recommendations

As COVID-19 guidance changes, the DOH is actively working to translate updated content into 40 languages (including many AANHPI). 

To access translated versions: 

  • Visit https://doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid-19/resources-and-recommendations 

  • Locate the brown rectangle in the top right corner of your screen that features the page’s current language and has an arrow indicating a drop-down menu.  

  • Select the arrow and your preferred language from the dropdown menu.  

  • Translated COVID-19 guidance available in the selected language will populate the page. 

The DOH released translated versions of the following documents this week, which are available on the DOH website:  

Language Based COVID Pediatric Vaccine Resources for Parents & Guardians

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Resources are available in the following languages:

 

EnglishSpanishAmharicArabicChineseHmongJapaneseKorean,Lao,SomaliVietnameseHindiNepaliPunjabi, TamilTeluguUrduThai

This is a community generated list of information on COVID Pediatric Vaccines and some general COVID vaccine info. Please note the links are shared by community members and not vetted for translation accuracy, use care in selecting which resources to give to families.

COVID-19 Impact and Considerations for Asians

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