What you need to know about WA Cares
How it works
The WA Cares Fund is a new program that gives working Washingtonians access to long-term care coverage when they need it. WA Cares is designed to help you live independently in your home as long as possible. Benefits can be used for a wide range of services, like in-home care, paying a family caregiver, home safety modifications, home-delivered meals, transportation and more.
WA Cares is self-funded by worker contributions and investment earnings on those contributions. Working Washingtonians earn $36,500 in lifetime long-term care insurance coverage (adjusted annually for inflation) by contributing 0.58% of their wages in premiums during their working years.
You will only contribute to WA Cares Fund while you’re working. Once you retire or if you leave the workforce temporarily, contributions stop.
Workers begin contributing to WA Cares on July 1, 2023. The typical (median) earner will contribute about $24/month. You can estimate your own contribution a calculator on the WA Cares Fund website.
Private insurance exemptions
Workers who had private long-term care insurance on or before Nov. 1, 2021 were able to apply to the Employment Security Department for an exemption from the WA Cares Fund until Dec. 31, 2022.
Under current law, these exemptions are permanent and if you have received an approved exemption, you will not be able to enroll in WA Cares.
If you previously applied for a private insurance exemption and received an approval letter from the Employment Security Department (ESD), your exemption is still valid. You do not need to reapply for an exemption, but you should make sure your employer has your exemption letter on file.
To submit your exemption letter, please email a copy to OFMGOVPayroll@ofm.wa.gov.
If you can’t find your exemption letter, you can download a copy from the Secure Access Washington account you used to apply for the exemption.
New exemption categories
As of Jan. 1, 2023, you can apply for an exemption from WA Cares if any of the following apply:
- You live outside of Washington.
- You are the spouse or registered domestic partner of an active-duty service member of the U.S. armed forces.
- You have a non-immigrant work visa.
- You are a veteran with a 70% service-connected disability rating or higher.
These exemptions will be available on an ongoing basis. You will qualify for these exemptions only as long as these circumstances apply. If you no longer qualify for your exemption, you will be required to notify ESD and your employer within 90 days.
Exception: Veterans with a 70% service-connected disability rating or higher will receive a permanent exemption.
Additional resources
In January, WA Cares hosted a webinar on WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know. Watch the recording on YouTube.
You can also find more information on the program’s website:
To stay up to date on WA Cares news and events, subscribe to the program’s mailing list.
