Using your benefits You can use your WA Cares benefits to get covered services and supports from a registered provider you choose. Start using benefits When you are ready to use your benefits, you will apply and see if you meet the contribution and care needs requirements. Once you are approved, you’ll take these steps to receive services: Choose your services and supports Explore the services and supports we cover and decide what benefits you want to receive. Find a provider You can get services from any provider who is registered with WA Cares. You'll use our Provider Network Directory to find providers in your area and contact them to talk about the details and costs of the services you want. Approve your pre-authorization Before you receive services, you must approve a pre-authorization in your benefits account. This is a formal agreement between you and your provider about the costs and details of your services. Manage your benefits Use your benefits account to manage your services and track the benefit amount you have available. 1 Choose services to receive Once you apply and get approval to use your benefits, you can choose the services and supports you want to receive. Upon approval, you’ll receive a benefit determination letter which will include a list of suggested services. You can use the suggestions to think about care options, but you aren’t required to choose from the list. Cost of services Your benefit amount is the lifetime total you can use. To make your benefits last longer, think about whether you can meet your care needs with less expensive services, such as in-home care and supports. You can choose your providers based on what you’re willing to pay. When you contact providers, you’ll discuss the services you want to receive and how much they charge. You may want to get quotes from multiple providers before choosing one. Each covered service or support has a maximum rate. Providers can’t charge more than the maximum and can’t ask you to pay extra out of pocket. In the rates information we provide, you’ll find the maximum rate and a typical cost range for each service or support. The ranges will give you a general idea of how much services might cost, but the amount you pay will vary depending on where you live and your care needs. Icon Enable a family member to become your paid caregiver If you have a family member who helps you out on a regular basis, they may qualify to become your paid caregiver. They can also get the training and support they need. Example services (prices are estimates only) Paying a family caregiver, including training (10 hours/week for 2 years 31,200 Care supplies (2 years of incontinence products) 3,600 ਕੁੱਲ 34,800 Icon Make living at home safer and easier You can use your benefit to make your home safer, more accessible, and get meals delivered if cooking is no longer an option. Example services (prices are estimates only) Home safety renovation (build ramp to front door and widen 3 doorways) 8,000 Personal emergency response system (Installation and 3 years of service) $3,124 10 meals delivered weekly for 3 years $24,960 ਕੁੱਲ $36,084 Icon Get support and services after a major health change You can get services after an accident or injury if your recovery will last longer than 90-days. This could include an in-home caregiver, adaptive equipment, or other helpful services. Example services (prices are estimates only) Part-time home care aide (20 hours/week for 6 months) 23,400 Environmental modification - ramp $5,000 Safety equipment (bedside commode, toilet seat riser, and sliding bath bench) $500 ਕੁੱਲ $28,900 2 FIND A WA CARES PROVIDER You can use our the Provider Network Directory to find providers in your area who offer the services you want. Listings include the provider’s name, services they offer, contact information and any additional languages they offer. View the directory How to use the directory Enter the service you need in the search box, or click a group of services below. Apply filters, then print or email the list, or view providers on a map. Reach out to any providers you're interested in to ask about their services, locations, availability, and prices. Let them know you're using WA Cares benefits. More options for accessing some services For some services, we offer multiple ways to find a provider or access the service. Compare your options below to find the one that works best for you. Icon In-home personal care providers Hire through a home care agency or Consumer Direct Care Network Washington, including a family member as your paid caregiver. ਵੇਰਵੇ ਵੇਖੋ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਲੁਕਾਓ In-home personal care allows you to find an in-home caregiver who can help you with daily activities, such as eating, bathing and managing your medications. Caregivers can also do housework, errands and meal preparation. You have three options to receive in-home personal care: Visit the directory to find a home care agency. Choose In-Home Personal Care in the search box or click the Caregivers button. Visit Consumer Direct Care Network Washington to learn about hiring a caregiver through them. You can also call 866-214-9899 and select option 4 for WA Cares. You can hire a family member or loved one as your paid caregiver. They will work for either a home care agency or Consumer Direct Care Network Washington. Visit paid family caregiving to learn more. Icon Adaptive equipment and technology Use a provider from the directory, have our vendor buy items, or get reimbursed for purchases. ਵੇਰਵੇ ਵੇਖੋ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਲੁਕਾਓ Adaptive equipment and technology are devices and services that help you with your activities of daily living and increase or maintain your independence, safety and welfare. You have three options to get these devices or services: Search for a provider using the directory. Choose a category under Assistive Technology in the search box or click the Assistive Technology button. Get help from our financial management services vendor with buying some types of covered items. They can make the purchase for you using your benefit balance, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Request reimbursement from our financial management services vendor for adaptive equipment and technology you buy out of pocket with your own money. Icon Transportation services Use a provider from the directory, get reimbursed for out-of-pocket purchases, or the mileage for a loved one who drives you around the community. ਵੇਰਵੇ ਵੇਖੋ ਵੇਰਵੇ ਲੁਕਾਓ Transportation services help with transportation to and from the grocery store, medical appointments, social services and therapeutic recreational activities. You have three options to receive in-home personal care: Search for a provider using the directory. Choose Transportation in the search box or click the Meals and Transportation button. Ask for reimbursement from our financial management services vendor for transportation you pay for out of pocket with your own money. Have our financial management services vendor reimburse a family member or friend who provides you with transportation. 3 Approve your pre-authorization Before you receive services, you must approve a pre-authorization in your benefits account. Your pre-authorization is a formal agreement between you and your provider about the costs and details of the services you’ll get. After you choose a provider, they’ll send a pre-authorization with the information you discussed with them to your benefits account. We’ll send you a notification to log in to your benefits account and approve it. You'll see it on your dashboard along with a notification that it’s ready for review. Click the review button to see the details and make sure everything matches what you agreed on with the provider. If not, you should click deny and contact the provider. You must approve the pre-authorization by the end of the take action date listed on it. Once you approve it, we’ll notify your provider that they can start services. We’ll pay your provider directly for the services and supports you receive. Your provider can charge up to the amount in the pre-authorization, but you don’t need to use the full amount you approved. If you don’t want to continue receiving services from that provider, you can contact us to cancel the pre-authorization. If you have both Apple Health (Medicaid) and WA Cares benefits, Apple Health won’t pay for services you could have accessed through WA Cares. If you have questions, you can contact us or talk to your case manager. 4 Manage your benefits You'll be able to manage your services in your benefits account. For adaptive equipment and technology and for transportation, you also have the option to use your benefits through GT Independence, our financial management services vendor. Learn more about purchasing and reimbursement options. Tracking your balance When you log in to your benefits account, your dashboard will show any notifications you need to check, any pre-authorizations you need to review and the current benefit amount you have available. You’ll see your original benefit amount, minus the cost of services you’ve received and any pre-authorizations you’ve approved. Help with your account If you need help, you can have a loved one or representative manage your benefits account. You can also contact us to answer questions or guide you through using your account. Language assistance is available. Image
