Our Policy Agenda
Our Policy Agenda reflects the collective priorities adopted by HCHR-WA sponsoring members and outlines our framework for achieving universal, equitable, and high-quality care in Washington.
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Achieve universal health care in WA State and our nation.
Improve health care affordability and access, while driving down escalating industry profits and controlling prices.
Advance equity and address social determinants of health, with a particular focus on reducing racial disparities.
Defend access to health care through existing public programs, including staving off privatization and monopolization in our current health care system, while working toward a universal health care system.
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Does the issue enhance and support the mission and goals of HCHR?
Does the issue have a critical mass of advocates, including a core leadership of organizations within HCHR?
Is there a clear and realistic strategy to pass or adopt thepolicy proposal?
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We are faced with a number of urgent challenges, including budget deficits at the state level that jeopardize our healthcare and other safety net programs, and threats at the federal level to Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, immigrant health and safety, reproductive health services, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and much more. It is therefore crucial that health care advocates work for both near term solutions and damage prevention, as well as long term investments and strategies. Health Care is a Human Right is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals in Washington and our nation are guaranteed access to comprehensive, affordable and equitable health care, and to helping ensure that our lawmakers feel the political urgency to create the tools and resources to fulfill that guarantee.
Universal Healthcare
Federal
● Support Congressional efforts to expand universal healthcare (e.g., Medicare For All Act - HR 3421 / S. 1655).
● Expand state authority and readiness for state-based universal coverage systems (e.g., State-Based Universal Health Care Act, HR 4406, S. 2286).
State
● Support legislative efforts to achieve universal health care (e.g., HB 1445 / SB 5233 Washington Health Trust, including interim steps such as expanding existing public coverage such as PEBB/SEBB, involvement with the UHCC, Federal trigger bill).
● Improve access to health care safety net programs for individuals at risk of losing coverage due to Federal threats (e.g., Apple Health Expansion, Cascade Care Savings).
● Support active state purchasing of health care (e.g.,Exchange plan selection authority)
Non-Legislative
● Pursue universal coverage through Washington State’s Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC).
● Commitment to hold the UHCC accountable and to expedite its work on proposing a universal health plan design, including a single-payer version.
How Universal Coverage Creates Long-Term Health Security:
Universal health care means every person is covered, regardless of employment, income, or immigration status. This agenda supports structural reforms such as the Washington Health Trust, federal Medicare-for-All legislation, and state-based universal coverage authority to move toward a system in which coverage is guaranteed. It strengthens interim steps — expanding public programs like PEBB and SEBB, protecting Apple Health Expansion and Cascade Care Savings, and using active state purchasing authority to negotiate better plans and prices. It also advances the work of Washington’s Universal Health Care Commission, pushing for a clear, actionable plan design, including a single-payer option. Together, these efforts shift the system from patchwork coverage to a stable, universal model that guarantees care as a right.
Equity & Social Determinants
Federal
● Protect health coverage for immigrants
● Ensuring data safety and privacy for immigrants and people accessing reproductive & gender-affirming care
● Preserve and advance immigrant health equity (e.g., maintain Apple Health Expansion and sustain funding for increased Cascade Care subsidies)
Non-Legislative
● Monitor legal threats to public programs, such as lawsuits against federal rules such as CMS data reinstatement of public charge and PWORA.
How Protecting Public Programs Strengthens Health Equity
Health equity depends on stable, protected public programs to defend coverage for immigrant families, safeguard medical data from misuse in immigration enforcement, and protect access to reproductive and gender-affirming care. We aim to preserve expansions like Apple Health and Cascade Care subsidies that make coverage affordable for communities historically excluded from the health system, monitor and challenge legal threats — including public charge rules and federal data policy changes — that could quietly undermine eligibility or discourage families from seeking care. By protecting program integrity, privacy, and funding, these policies reduce fear, prevent coverage loss, and strengthen trust in the health system.
Access & Affordability
Your story helps us show decision-makers the real impact of health care policies and, with your permission, may be used in reports or advocacy materials.
Federal
● Ensure availability of affordable coverage options (e.g., Cascade Care Subsidies and Medigap guaranteed issue and annual open enrollment).
● Ensure access to community-based care (e.g., Corporate Practice of Medicine and Consolidation Transparency).
● Ensure state oversight of health care entity spending (e.g., Excess insurer reserves tax HB 2073/SB 5808).
● Remove cost barriers to receiving life-saving medications.
● Expanding access to public coverage (e.g., HB 1354 Expanding PEBB to session employees, state safety net programs for people losing coverage due to HR 1).
● Support patients by advocating for medical debt wage garnishment alleviation.
State
● Address premium affordability through continued funding for enhanced premium tax credits.
● Reduce barriers to care and administrative burdens, such as prior authorization rules.
(S. 1816 and H.R. 3514 - Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025).
● Address drug affordability for lifesaving medications (e.g., Capping costs for epi-pens, inhalers, and insulin.
Non-Legislative
● Monitor consumer affordability and price control efforts via Washington State’s Health Care Cost Transparency Board, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and the Exchange’s Cascade Care Workgroup.
How These Policies Lower Costs and Make Coverage Accessible:
Health coverage often fails not because people are ineligible, but because premiums are too high, prescription prices are unaffordable, enrollment rules are restrictive, or paperwork delays treatment. These policies address those practical breakdown points. They lower monthly costs, prevent sudden coverage loss, reduce drug price spikes, limit unnecessary administrative hurdles, and rein in excessive insurer profits. By stabilizing coverage and controlling costs, this agenda ensures insurance is not just technically available, but usable in real life — without financial crisis or delayed care.
Defending Public
Program
Federal
● Support progressive revenue to prevent cuts of public programs (e.g., new taxes on financial intangibles, insurer reserves, capital gains cleanup, health-specific revenue).
● Protect the healthcare safety net amidst proposed threats from budget cuts.
● Defend critical health and economic support programs from long-term threats (e.g., paid family & medical leave).
● Explore solutions to achieve administrative simplification of Washington's Apple Health program, in order to free up funds for patient care and provider reimbursement.
State
● Defend Original Medicare against privatization and underfunding, including by calling for federal action to “level the playing field” with Medicare Advantage through adding benefits, capping enrollee expenses, and limiting copays and deductibles (e.g., SJM 8002)
● Prevent restrictions on access to care in Medicare, including the usage of prior authorization to delay or deny services (H.R. 5940 - Seniors Deserve SMARTER care Act)
● Safeguard Social Security and strengthen protections for beneficiaries (S. 2763 - Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security)
● Advocate against impending changes to Medicaid that harm access to coverage (e.g., H.R. 1).
Non-Legislative
● Continue to engage with state and federal partners and other stakeholders to address threats to safety net programs.
How Defending Public Programs Protects Health and Economic Security:
Public programs like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and Paid Family & Medical Leave form the backbone of health and financial stability for millions of people. This agenda protects those programs from budget cuts, privatization, and administrative barriers that reduce access to care. It supports fair revenue solutions to prevent harmful reductions, defends Original Medicare against underfunding and privatization, safeguards Medicaid from coverage rollbacks, and strengthens Social Security protections. By resisting long-term structural threats and simplifying program administration, these policies ensure safety net programs remain stable, accessible, and adequately funded for the people who rely on them.
Policy Terms & Public Program Glossary
Plain-language explanations of the programs, commissions, and acronyms referenced in this agenda.
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Washington State’s name for Medicaid. Provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families.We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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A set of standardized health insurance plans offered through Washington Healthplanfinder (the state’s insurance marketplace). These plans aim to lower costs and improve quality by requiring consistent benefits and cost structures.
Cascade Care Savings (Subsidies)State-funded premium assistance that lowers monthly insurance payments for people who buy coverage through Washington’s marketplace.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency that oversees Medicaid, Medicare, and major health coverage rules.
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Laws and regulations that limit corporate control over medical decision-making, ensuring that clinical decisions are made by licensed providers rather than corporate entities.
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Authority that allows Washington’s health insurance marketplace to actively choose which plans insurers may sell, rather than accepting all plans that meet minimum standards. This helps ensure affordability and quality.
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Proposed legislation to tax large insurer reserve funds that exceed reasonable requirements, redirecting unused premium dollars back into public health investments.
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Legislation that would automatically allow Washington to move to a state-based universal health care system if federal legal barriers are removed.
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Supplemental insurance that helps Medicare beneficiaries cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance.
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A rule requiring insurers to sell coverage to eligible individuals regardless of health status.
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(Public Employees Benefits Board)
The board that manages health insurance for Washington State employees and certain public workers.
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(School Employees Benefits Board)
The board that manages health insurance for public school employees in Washington State.
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A requirement that doctors obtain insurer approval before certain treatments or prescriptions are covered, often causing delays in care.
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(Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act)
A 1996 federal law that restricts immigrant eligibility for many federal public benefits, including Medicaid.
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Universal Health Care Commission (UHCC)
A Washington State commission tasked with developing recommendations for a universal health coverage system in the state, including exploring single-payer and other coverage models.
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Proposed legislation to create a state-based universal health care system in Washington, potentially moving toward a publicly financed, comprehensive coverage model.
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Federal legislation proposing a national single-payer health care system.
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Universal health care is a system where everyone in a country has access to medical care, regardless of their ability to pay and socioeconomic status. Cool, right?
Moving this agenda forward requires collective action. We invite community members, organizations, providers, and advocates to connect with us to strengthen these priorities, share expertise, and build the momentum needed to win lasting change. Whether you want to support specific legislation, align organizational efforts, share lived experience, or better understand how these policies work, we welcome collaboration and conversation.
Contact us to explore how we can work together to advance equitable, affordable, and universal health care in Washington.