HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

[Filed February 10, 2026, 1:53 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-01-149.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 182-560-100 Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.

Hearing Location(s): On March 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The health care authority (HCA) holds public hearings virtually without a physical meeting place. Virtual public hearings are held via Microsoft Teams webinar. To attend, you must register in advance at https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/57293f3e-856d-4baa-9b2f-33c258d501f8@11d0e217-264e-400a-8ba0-57dcc127d72d. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the public hearing. You will be able to join the public hearing through most standard internet browsers; you do not need to install Microsoft Teams.

Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than March 25, 2026.

Submit Written Comments to: HCA Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, email arc@hca.wa.gov, fax 360-586-9727, beginning February 11, 2026, 8:00 a.m., by March 24, 2026, 11:59 p.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jessica Nguyen, phone 360-725-1174, fax 360-586-9727, telecommunication relay service 711, email arc@hca.wa.gov, by March 6, 2026.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: HCA is amending its ABLE Act rule to change the age before which disability must have begun for purposes of eligibility from 26 to 46.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: See purpose.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, and 26 U.S.C. Section 529A(e).

Rule is necessary because of federal law, 26 U.S.C. Section 529A(e).

Name of Proponent: HCA, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Brian Jensen, P.O. Box 42716, Olympia, WA 98504-2716, 360-725-0815; Implementation and Enforcement: Paige Lewis, P.O. Box 42722, Olympia, WA 98504-2722, 360-725-0757.

A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to HCA rules unless requested by the joint administrative rules review committee or applied voluntarily.

This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(4).

Explanation of exemptions: The proposed rule pertains to client program eligibility and does not impose costs on businesses.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-17-049, filed 8/8/18, effective 9/8/18)

WAC 182-560-100Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.

This rule describes a qualified achieving a better life experience (ABLE) account and its effect on the determination of eligibility for Washington apple health coverage.

(1) A qualified ABLE account:

(a) Is established and maintained by a state, or its designated agency or entity;

(b) Meets federal requirements under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 529A; and

(2) This section applies to ABLE account beneficiaries who:

(a) Are entitled to benefits based on blindness or disability under Title II or XVI of the Social Security Act; or

(b) Meet the blindness or disability requirements under WAC 182-512-0050 (1)(b) and (c).

(3) The disability or blindness described in subsection (2)(a) or (b) of this section must have occurred before age ((twenty-six))46.

(4) This section does not apply if the total combined annual contributions to an ABLE account exceed the limit under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 529A.

(5) When determining countable income for apple health programs for the account's designated beneficiary, the medicaid agency or the agency's designee does not:

(a) Count contributions made by a person other than the designated beneficiary to the ABLE account;

(b) Count funds distributed from the account;

(d) Reduce income used to determine eligibility by the amount of contributions made to the account, including any funds the designated beneficiary may contribute to it.

(6) When determining eligibility for apple health programs, the agency or the agency's designee excludes as resources:

(a) The value of an ABLE account, including any earnings generated by the account; and

(b) Subject to subsection (8) of this section, distributions from the account for qualified disability expenses as long as the beneficiary:

(i) Maintains an ABLE account;

(ii) Contributes to an ABLE account; or

(iii) Receives distributions from such ABLE account.

(7) "Qualified disability expense (QDE)" means any expense related to the beneficiary's blindness or disability that is made for the benefit of the beneficiary, including the following expenses:

(a) Education;

(b) Housing;

(d) Employment training and support;

(e) Assistive technology and personal support services;

(f) Health;

(g) Prevention and wellness;

(h) Financial management;

(i) Legal fees;

(j) Expenses for oversight and monitoring; and

(k) Funeral and burial expenses.

(8) Distributions under subsection (6)(b) of this section, which are retained into a subsequent calendar month:

(a) Remain excluded as resources as long as the distributions are identifiable and the beneficiary still intends to use the distribution for a QDE;

(b) Are available resources on the first day of a subsequent calendar month if the intent of the beneficiary changes such that the beneficiary will not use the distribution for a QDE; and

(c) Are available resources on the first day of any subsequent month when the distribution is actually used for a non-QDE.

(9) The agency or the agency's designee counts as a resource on the first day of the following month any funds distributed for purposes other than paying a QDE expense described in subsection (7) of this section.

(10) If the beneficiary has multiple ABLE accounts, the agency or the agency's designee applies this section to the first ABLE account established.

(11) Funds remaining in the ABLE account when the beneficiary dies are subject to estate recovery under chapter 182-527 WAC, less any:

(a) Outstanding QDE debts; and

(b) Premium payments made from the ABLE account on behalf of the beneficiary to obtain coverage under the apple health care for workers with disabilities described in WAC 182-511-1000.