You rely on your health insurance plan to cover doctor and hospital visits. But did you know your health plan may also have people who can help you stay healthy in your daily life?

They’re called Community Health Workers (CHWs). They can support you at home, in your neighborhood, and whenever you need a helping hand.

Community Health Workers don’t provide medical care—that’s what your doctors are for. Instead, they help with the everyday challenges of life, like finding food or getting a ride to the pharmacy.

Think of CHWs as an extended part of your care team. They bridge the gap between your doctor’s office and your life at home.

Because CHWs live in the same communities as the members they serve, they share many of the same daily experiences—shopping at the same grocery stores, visiting the same pharmacies, and navigating the same local services. This firsthand experience helps them understand your day-to-day needs better than most people.

How CHWs can support you

Many Apple Health (Medicaid) plans, including Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW), have CHWs who support members by phone or in person. CHWs do more than just offer advice—they roll up their sleeves and walk alongside you to navigate some of life’s toughest challenges.

People are often surprised by the kinds of things our Community Health Worker team can do. It’s not just appointments and paperwork—it’s whatever someone needs to feel supported.”

—Sara W., Manager of CHPW’s CHW team

Among the ways CHWs can step in to help:

• Visit you in your home to see how you’re doing

• Connect you with local resources for groceries, transportation, and assistance with heating bills
• Help you fill out medical forms and other important paperwork
• Go with you to doctor appointments

And that’s just the beginning.

“We’ve helped families find resources to talk to their children about a cancer diagnosis. We’ve connected widows and widowers to peer support. We’ve helped members secure financial assistance for propane, wood, and other heating needs. We’ve ridden the bus with members to teach them how to read routes and feel confident using transit. We’ve helped people get fans or air conditioners during extreme heat,”

—CHPW’s Sara W. says.

The best part? The help that CHWs provide doesn’t cost you anything. It’s fully included in your Apple Health plan.

Getting connected with a Community Health Worker

If you think a CHW could help you, ask your health plan, local Community Health Center, or county public health department about connecting with one. When a CHW contacts you, don’t be shy about sharing what you need! You might be surprised at the variety of ways they can step in to help.

“Our team steps into whatever gap exists. If it affects someone’s health, stability, or well‑being, we’re there,”

— Sara W. says.

If you’re a CHPW member and think a Community Health Worker could help you, contact us:

• Tel: 866-418-7006 (TTY: 711), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
• Email: [email protected]

You can also try Findhelp, an online service that helps you find connections to community resources that assist with both social and health related needs. Findhelp is free and easy to use!

CHW member success story: Helping Joe find a path forward*

Joe, a CHPW member in his 20s, felt like every door in his life was closing.

He didn’t have a stable place to live and chronic pain from a past injury made steady work difficult.

When a CHPW Community Health Worker reached out, Joe shared that he felt stuck. He mentioned that he had always loved cars and wanted to learn more about automotive technology but felt going back to school was out of reach.

Meeting his CHW changed everything.

The CHW helped Joe apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal program that provides monthly cash payments to people with disabilities who have little or no income. The CHW also helped Joe look for and apply to colleges in the area with automotive technology programs.

The CHW even went with Joe to his advising appointment at a technical college. While there, Joe learned some fantastic news: He had been accepted!

Joe was ecstatic. He said that before meeting the CHW, he had absolutely no idea where to turn.

Now, Joe is preparing for classes, looking for student housing, and taking real steps toward the future he always dreamed of.

Joe’s story shows just one of the many ways a Community Health Worker can make a real difference in someone’s life.

*Member’s name changed to protect member privacy.

Resources

• CHPW Community Support Services
• Be Well: Beyond your doctor: Finding local support for your health
• Be Well: What is a case manager and how can they help you?
• Be Well: Community resources can support your health