Everyone in Washington State has been tossing a few coins into a gigantic piggy bank so that, in 20 years, Grandma can afford a robot helper and grab bars for the bathtub. That’s WA Cares, the first state long-term-care program in the country, and it’s about to blast off. Let's see what's up!
Here are Five Fast Facts on WA Cares:
- 🫴 Coming Soon - Beginning July 1, people living in Washington State who’ve paid in can claim up to $36,500 in lifelong care for things like in-home caregivers, meds, meals, or even grab bars on the toilet. The benefit will adjust for inflation, so hopefully, adult diapers won’t break the bank!
- 💸 You're Already Signed Up! - If you've been working, then you've been paying 0.58% of every paycheck for the last couple years - about $25 a month if you make $50k. It’s automatic, like Netflix, but you can’t cancel this subscription.
- 🔍 The Fine Print - To be eligible to take benefits, you have to either pay the tax for 10 years or for 3 of the last 6 years, and work at least 500 hours a year. Near-retirees get partial credit - think “participation trophy,” but in dollars.
- 🚫 No Thanks - Nearly 413,000 people with private care insurance opted out. But recent changes to the program let retirees, military spouses, visa holders, and veterans join -- or rejoin -- the plan through July 2028, making it more flexible.
- 👀 A National Pilot - Washington already banked $2 billion toward this trust fund by March. After dodging a repeal attempt, it’s now on track to start paying out benefits. Up to 400 seniors in select counties will test the system starting in January 2026. Other states grabbed the popcorn and are watching to see how the program works out.
🔥Bottom line: Washington is essentially making everyone pitch in a tiny bit today so aging won’t be a wallet apocalypse later. It’s like setting up a safety net before you even need it. Some grumbled, some opted out, but now it’s bigger, smarter, and tougher to ditch. If it works, other states might copy it, meaning your future bath-time could cost someone else’s pocket change. And that's the big question: how much of other people's money will be spent here, and will it be sustainable?
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