Having a baby in Washington
Medicaid and WIC income limits, paid leave, doula and lactation coverage, breast pumps and childcare prices in Washington, with the agency and link to apply for each.
Checked October 2026 · 33 sources
Short answer
What you can get in Washington
The short answer for each benefit, with its source. Tap Details for income limits, how to apply and the fine print.
Can Medicaid cover your pregnancy in Washington?
In Washington, Apple Health covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 215% of the federal poverty level (about $46,526 a year for a household of two); Medicaid postpartum coverage lasts 12 months.
Can you get WIC in Washington?
Yes, if your household's income is at or below $40,034 a year for two people (you and your baby). If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already qualify. You can start online.
Does Washington have paid family leave?
Washington pays up to 12 weeks to bond plus medical leave for pregnancy and recovery, up to 16 weeks combined (18 with a complication such as a C-section), at up to 90% of wages, max $1,647 a week in 2026.
Does Apple Health pay for a doula?
In Washington, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $3,500 per pregnancy for an intake visit and up to 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum visits, plus support during labor and delivery.
Does Apple Health cover a lactation consultant?
In Washington, Apple Health has no separate lactation consultant benefit, and breastfeeding support comes through Maternity Support Services.
Does Apple Health cover a breast pump?
In Washington, Apple Health covers one manual or electric breast pump every three years without prior authorization.
Medicaid for pregnancy in Washington
Yes215%
of the federal poverty level is the upper income limit
KFF, January 2026
12 mo
of Medicaid coverage after birth
KFF, July 2026
- Program
- Apple Health
- Agency
- Washington State Health Care Authority
- Medicaid limit
- 215% of the poverty level
- CHIP unborn-child option
- Yes, at the Medicaid limit
- 12-month postpartum coverage since
- April 1, 2022
- Presumptive eligibility
- Not for the pregnancy group, but hospitals can still make presumptive determinations.
Hospitals in every state may make presumptive eligibility determinations.
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 2you + 1 baby | $46,526 | $3,877 |
| 3 | $58,738 | $4,895 |
| 4 | $70,950 | $5,913 |
| 5 | $83,162 | $6,930 |
| 6 | $95,374 | $7,948 |
| 7 | $107,586 | $8,966 |
Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting. Gross household income; Washington rounds and updates on its own schedule, so treat these as approximate. Compare every state
Sources: KFF State Health Facts; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families; KFF; Washington State Health Care Authority; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data as of October 2026.
WIC in Washington
YesWashington WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.
- Program
- Washington WIC
- Agency
- Washington State Department of Health
- Phone
- (800) 841-1410
- Apply online
- Start the online form
- Notes
- The phone number is the WIC Cascades Support Line.
Start online or call
Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.Go to your appointment
In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.
| Household | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $29,526 | $2,461 |
| 2 | $40,034 | $3,337 |
| 3 | $50,542 | $4,212 |
| 4 | $61,050 | $5,088 |
| 5 | $71,558 | $5,964 |
| 6 | $82,066 | $6,839 |
Gross household income. Count each unborn baby as a household member.
Sources: Washington State Department of Health; USDA Food and Nutrition Administration; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Data as of October 2026.
Paid family leave in Washington
YesWashington pays up to 12 weeks to bond plus medical leave for pregnancy and recovery, up to 16 weeks combined (18 with a complication such as a C-section), at up to 90% of wages, max $1,647 a week in 2026.
12 wk
of paid leave to bond with your baby
Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave
$1,647
weekly maximum in 2026
Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Program
- Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Pregnancy and recovery
- Washington automatically treats the first 6 weeks after you give birth (the 'postnatal period') as medical leave. You don't need a medical certification and there's no waiting week, just proof of birth. Leave before birth for pregnancy incapacity needs a medical certification and has a waiting week. You can then add family leave to bond, up to 16 weeks total, or 18 if you had a pregnancy complication causing incapacity (ESD's examples are bed rest or a C-section).
- Legal maximum, your own health
- 14 weeks
- Paying since
- January 1, 2020
- Pay
- 90% of your average weekly wage up to half the state average weekly wage, plus 50% of the amount above that. Minimum $100/week; maximum $1,647/week in 2026 ($1,542 in 2025). Your max is locked in for the claim year you start.
- Job protection
- The PFML law itself protects your job (RCW 50A.35.010) if you've worked for your employer at least 180 calendar days and it has 25 or more employees in 2026. That threshold drops to 15+ in 2027 and 8+ from 2028; there's no hours requirement. Your employer must restore you to the same or an equivalent job and, starting 2026, keep your health coverage. Exceptions: the top 10% of salaried earners (if restoring them would cause serious financial harm and they get notice), and jobs that would not have existed anyway. Without PFML job protection, federal FMLA or other laws may apply.
- Who qualifies
- You must have worked 820 hours in Washington in your qualifying period (about the first 4 of the last 5 completed quarters). Full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal work all count, and you don't need to be currently employed. Workers at businesses of all sizes are covered. Not covered: federal employees, tribal-business employees on tribal land, workers on an approved employer voluntary plan (who apply through that plan), and self-employed people who haven't opted in.
- Notes
- Apply within 30 days after the birth. Give your employer 30 days' notice if the leave is foreseeable. You can't get the postnatal-period approval before the baby is born. 2026 changes (HB 1213, 2025 c 304): job protection widened from 50+ employees with 12 months and 1,250 hours to 25+ employees with 180 days and no hours test; health coverage must continue for job-protected workers; employers may count FMLA time against PFML job protection with written notice; you must claim at least 4 consecutive hours per week. By statute the 2027 maximum is set by September 30 and takes effect January 1, but it hadn't been posted as of October 9, 2026. Each parent can take bonding leave, and bonding must be within 12 months of the birth.
The weekly maximum is a ceiling, not a typical benefit. Checked October 2026. Amounts usually change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with the state before you plan.
Sources: Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave; Washington State Legislature; National Partnership for Women & Families; Mercer Law & Policy Group; Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Data as of October 2026.
Doula coverage in Washington
YesIn Washington, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $3,500 per pregnancy for an intake visit and up to 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum visits, plus support during labor and delivery.
- Covered since
- January 1, 2025
- Most Medicaid pays per pregnancy
- $3,500
- Payment
- $750 for one in-person prenatal intake visit of at least 2 hours (59899-U1), $750 flat for continuous in-person labor and delivery support (T1033), and $25 per 15 minutes (T1032) for up to 20 hours (80 units) of other prenatal and postpartum visits, of which 6 units are set aside for a comprehensive postpartum visit. Up to $3,500 per pregnancy. Fee schedule effective 1/1/2025.
- Labor and delivery support
- Yes
- Doula certification required
- Washington state-certified birth doula (Dept. of Health), NPI, and ProviderOne enrollment
- Notes
- Visits are time-based: one 20-hour (80-unit) pool for prenatal and postpartum support on top of the intake visit and labor support, with no fixed visit count. 6 units are reserved for a comprehensive postpartum visit and up to 74 units can go to either period. Limits can be extended case by case through HCA's limitation extension process. HCA's billing guide (effective 7/1/2026) does not cover audio-only telemedicine. HCA finalized permanent doula rules effective 8/25/2025. The National Health Law Program reports a statewide standing recommendation from HCA and DOH (October 2024) and coverage up to 12 months after pregnancy. HCA's doula page is aimed at providers; Apple Health has no member page about doulas.
The dollar figure is what Medicaid pays the doula, not what you pay. Medicaid can't charge cost sharing for pregnancy-related services, so covered doula care costs you nothing. You usually need a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or other licensed provider, and a doula in your health plan's network. Checked October 2026; rates often change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with Apple Health.
980
doulas listed in Washington, 1 on a Medicaid doula list
CMS NPPES and state doula lists
Sources: National Health Law Program (NHeLP); Washington State Health Care Authority; Washington State Department of Health; National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP); eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations. Data as of October 2026.
Lactation support in Washington
LimitedIn Washington, Apple Health has no separate lactation consultant benefit, and breastfeeding support comes through Maternity Support Services.
- Notes
- Apple Health has no lactation-specific consultation code: S9443 and 98960-98962 are not on the October 2026 physician fee schedule, which states unlisted codes are not covered, and the October 2026 Physician-Related and Pregnancy-Related billing guides describe no lactation benefit. Breastfeeding support is available only within Maternity Support Services (MSS) for eligible pregnant and postpartum clients, where breastfeeding is a listed group class topic and program goal. KFF's 2021 survey reported inpatient-only lactation coverage; no current HCA source confirming that was found.
196
lactation consultants listed in Washington
CMS NPPES
Sources: Washington State Health Care Authority; KFF. Data as of October 2026.
Breast pumps through Apple Health
YesIn Washington, Apple Health covers one manual or electric breast pump every three years without prior authorization.
- Pump types
- manual; personal electric; hospital-grade rental
- Prior authorization
- Not required
- Prescription
- Required
- When you can get one
- Manual or electric pump purchase limited to one per client in a three-year period; hospital-grade rental limited to 3 months unless extended with PA
- Notes
- HCA buys manual (E0602) and electric (E0603) pumps without prior authorization, one per client every three years, and rents hospital-grade pumps (E0604) with PA, mainly for infants with prolonged hospitalization and listed conditions. Medical equipment must be prescribed by a practitioner.
Sources: Washington State Health Care Authority; KFF. Data as of October 2026.
Childcare costs in Washington
$18,580
a year ($357 a week), the median for infant care at a center
DOL state estimate, 2022
$13,200
a year ($254 a week) in a family childcare home
DOL state estimate, 2022
Full-time provider prices before any subsidy, in 2022 dollars. The national median for center infant care was $12,647 a year. 39 county infant center prices were not surveyed in 2022; DOL estimated them from the price trend between other survey years.
| County | Per year |
|---|---|
| King Countyhighest | $24,879 |
| Adams Countylowest | $12,326 |
39 of 39 counties have a center infant price.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Data as of October 2026.
Questions about having a baby in Washington
What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in Washington?
Apple Health covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 215% of the federal poverty level. At the 2026 poverty guidelines that's about $46,526 a year for a household of two, $58,738 for three and $70,950 for four. Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting.
How long does Medicaid cover you after birth in Washington?
Apple Health covers you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since April 2022.
What is the WIC income limit in Washington?
From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, Washington WIC uses USDA's limits: $40,034 a year for a household of two, $50,542 for three and $61,050 for four. If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already meet the income rule. Call 1-800-841-1410 to apply.
Does Washington have paid family leave?
Washington pays up to 12 weeks to bond plus medical leave for pregnancy and recovery, up to 16 weeks combined (18 with a complication such as a C-section), at up to 90% of wages, max $1,647 a week in 2026.
Does Apple Health pay for a doula?
In Washington, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $3,500 per pregnancy for an intake visit and up to 20 hours of prenatal and postpartum visits, plus support during labor and delivery.
How much does infant daycare cost in Washington?
The median price for full-time infant care at a center in Washington was $357 a week, about $18,580 a year, in 2022 (U.S. Department of Labor). Prices have risen since, so treat it as a floor and look up your county.
Sources
- 1.Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Pregnant Women as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level (as of January 2026) KFF State Health Facts. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 2.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Prepare for Major Medicaid Policy Changes (Table 2, January 2026) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 3.Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker (as of July 15, 2026) KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 4.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Resume Routine Operations Following the Unwinding (Table 7: Presumptive Eligibility, January 2025) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 5.Apple Health: how to apply Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 6.CMS approval of Washington State Plan Amendment WA-22-0012 (12-month postpartum coverage), effective 2022-04-01 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 7.Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, Jan. 15, 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 8.Washington WIC (state WIC page) Washington State Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 9.Washington WIC: state agency contact USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 10.Washington WIC: online application or interest form Washington State Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 11.WIC: 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050, Apr. 29, 2026) USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 12.Find out how Paid Leave works Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 13.What is the postnatal period? Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 14.Job protection for employees Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 15.Apply now Washington Employment Security Department, Paid Family and Medical Leave. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 33 sourcesHide the state sources
- 16.RCW 50A.15.020 Benefits Washington State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 17.RCW 50A.35.010 Employment protection Washington State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 18.State Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Laws (chart, April 2026) National Partnership for Women & Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 19.State paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits (Feb. 6, 2026) Mercer Law & Policy Group. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 20.Doula Medicaid Project: state-by-state chart of doula Medicaid efforts (last updated Sep. 2026) National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 21.Doulas (Apple Health birth doula benefit) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 22.Birth Doula Services Billing Guide (effective July 1, 2026) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 23.Birth Doula Services Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2025) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 24.Birth Doulas (state certification) Washington State Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 25.State Trends in Medicaid Coverage of Doula Services (published April 1, 2026; data as of March 2026) National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 26.42 CFR 447.56(a)(2)(ii), exemptions from Medicaid cost sharing: pregnancy-related services eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations.
- 27.Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management Billing Guide (July 1, 2026) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 28.Physician-Related Services/Professional Healthcare Services Fee Schedule (Effective October 1, 2026) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 29.Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a 2021 State Survey KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 30.Medical Equipment and Supplies Billing Guide (July 1, 2026) Washington State Health Care Authority. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 31.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 32.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 33.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Other states
Benefits change at the state line. Pick another state to compare.
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