(1) For the purposes of this chapter, "we" or "us" refers to the agency or its designee and "you" refers to the applicant for, or recipient of, health care coverage.

(2) A person may apply for all of the insurance affordability programs offered through the health care authority (HCA) or the Washington Healthplanfinder (as defined in WAC 182-500-0015):

(a) Washington apple health (WAH) programs (defined in WAC 182-500-0120). WAH includes medicaid programs (defined in WAC 182-500-0070), the children's health insurance program (CHIP) (defined in WAC 182-500-0020), and state-only funded health care programs. These programs are provided free or at low cost on a sliding scale to eligible persons based on their income. WAH program regulations for the application process and eligibility determination are found in chapters 182-503 through 182-527 WAC.

(b) Health insurance premium tax credits (defined in WAC 182-500-0045). This federal refundable tax credit partially offsets the cost of monthly premiums for qualified health plan (QHP) (defined in WAC 182-500-0090) insurance that an eligible person purchases through the Washington Healthplanfinder. Any advance payments of the tax credit are reconciled annually by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when the person files his or her federal tax return.

(c) Cost-sharing reductions. Cost-sharing reductions (defined in WAC 182-500-0020) are available to eligible persons enrolled in a silver-level QHP and to American Indians/Alaska Natives enrolled in any QHP.

(3) A person may also apply for and enroll in unsubsidized insurance with a QHP. This unsubsidized insurance is not an insurance affordability program.

(4) Persons choose whether or not to apply for insurance affordability programs. All persons who apply for an insurance affordability program are treated as an applicant for WAH coverage and receive an approval or denial of WAH. Applicants who are denied WAH are reviewed for other insurance affordability programs.