Effective Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, federal H.R. 1 will restrict Medicaid and CHIP eligibility to lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban Haitian entrants and clients living under a Compact of Free Association (COFA). People who will lose Medicaid coverage include Washington residents who are asylees, refugees and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.
An estimated 11,000 Washingtonians will lose coverage, including roughly 1,000 people receiving long-term care or developmental disability services.
To help address the loss of Medicaid-funded long-term services and supports (LTSS), Washington will implement the Limited Benefit Community Access Program (LBCAP) effective Oct. 1, 2026. Administered by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in coordination with HCA, LBCAP is a state-funded program that will provide LTSS to certain clients who lose Medicaid coverage due to their immigration status.
Initially, the program will support DSHS clients who were receiving services as of July 31, 2026, lost coverage due to their immigration status, and either live in a residential care facility or meet specified acuity requirements.
Others affected individuals may be placed on a waitlist, with openings prioritized based on CARE assessment factors, including acuity and length of time receiving services.
For information about other coverage options individuals may still qualify for, visit HCA’s HCAs noncitizen FAQ and the HCA H.R. 1 impacts webpage. (Mary Storace)