Wa Cares Fund launches first state long-term care benefits

OLYMPIA – Starting tomorrow, Washington will provide the first benefits through WA Cares, its first-in-the-nation long-term care insurance program.

WA Cares is designed to help Washingtonians live safely and independently in their homes longer and provide a much-needed financial resource for families. Most Washington workers earn long-term care benefits they can use later in life through automatic contributions to WA Cares.

"This is a historic moment for Washington as the first and only state to offer workers access to affordable long-term care," said Governor Bob Ferguson. "Most of us will need long-term care at some point in our lives. I'm proud Washington is the first state in the country to offer a program like WA Cares. Once again, Washington state is leading the way."

Nearly half a million Washingtonians will experience the need for long-term care service or support within the next ten years, but for most people, paying for it is a struggle. Less than 3% of Americans have a private long-term care insurance policy or enough personal savings to pay out of pocket for long-term care support and services. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, more than a third of Americans do not have more than $400 in savings for emergencies. More than 1 million Washingtonians rent their home, and cannot tap into home equity to cover long-term care expenses.

WA Cares can be a lifeline for these families. WA Cares benefits pay for services not usually covered by private insurance or Medicare, things like a home care aide, safety features like grab bars, ramps, bathroom retrofits, care supplies, meals and transportation. These covered support and services help us stay in our homes when we need assistance with daily living tasks because of a serious injury, debilitating disease, or the normal challenges that can come with aging.

WA Cares benefits are paid for with a monthly payroll contribution of 0.58% per paycheck. Contributions are automatic for most Washington workers. To check your contribution history, create a benefits account to see your annual statement.

Currently, the full benefit amount is $36,500, but will automatically grow with inflation.

Wa Cares is there for Washington families

Washingtonians who qualify can choose the benefits they want from a wide range of services and supports, like in-home care, home modifications, home-delivered meals and adaptive equipment like a walker or bath chair. They can also use their benefits to pay a loved one, including their spouse, to provide care.

How to apply

To qualify for benefits, applicants must meet a contribution requirement and a care needs requirement. Even workers or recent retirees who have only contributed for part of a year since July 2023 may have earned benefits they can use if they need care.

To get started, applicants create a benefits account and fill out a brief online application. They can also get help from a loved one or representative, or call 844-CARE4WA to apply over the phone. Applicants who want in-person application support can find their local Area Agency on Aging online or call 855-567-0252.

WA Cares checks the worker's contribution history to confirm they meet the contribution requirement. To determine whether the applicant meets the care needs requirement, a WA Cares team member meets with them to talk about help they need with daily activities like bathing, eating, managing medications and moving around the house.

Using benefits

Once approved, the beneficiary can access up to $36,500 in covered services and supports. The benefit amount grows automatically over time with inflation.

Beneficiaries can get any covered services and supports from a WA Cares provider. They can find registered providers who offer the services they want using an online directory and call WA Cares at 844-CARE4WA if they need help.

To learn more, visit wacaresfund.wa.gov.