Washington’s WA Cares Program Launches After 7 Years of Political Battles
Washington state’s WA Cares fund began paying out benefits on July 1, 2026, making it the first state-run long-term care insurance program in U.S. history. Dozens of applications have already been filed.
3.7 million Washington workers pay premiums into WA Cares, funding a benefit of up to $36,500 per eligible person
That $36,500 cap will rise with inflation over time. The program covers in-home caretaking, mobility equipment, medications, and meal delivery.
How the Payroll Tax Works
WA Cares is funded by a 0.58% tax on wages earned in Washington. For a worker making $50,000 a year, that is roughly $25 per month. For someone earning $80,000, it is about $39 per month. Deductions began in July 2023.
Contributions pause when a worker retires, loses a job, or leaves the workforce, then resume if they return. To qualify for the full $36,500 benefit, a worker must contribute for 10 years total, or for at least three of the last six years before applying. Workers who live outside Washington but paid into the fund cannot access benefits until July 1, 2030.
A 7-Year Road With Real Opposition
Washington Democrats passed the program in 2019 over Republican objections. It has been revised several times through legislative action and public debate. In 2024, Washington voters rejected a ballot measure that would have ended it entirely.
“Washington is making history by being the first to launch a public solution to the long-term care crisis that forces too many people further into debt every year.”
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, author of the 2019 legislation
Cathy MacCaul, advocacy director for AARP Washington, called the launch “a really exciting milestone” but noted unfinished work: clarifying how family caregivers qualify, and enrolling more nursing homes, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities as authorized providers.
Why Other States Are Watching
Long-term care costs are rising across the country, and Medicaid, the primary federal safety net for those costs, faces deep cuts under the federal budget reconciliation bill passed in 2025. WA Cares offers a state-funded alternative model that does not depend on federal dollars.
Governor Bob Ferguson said he would “be surprised if we get a few years down the road, and other states aren’t starting to follow this model.” Whether that prediction holds depends on how well Washington executes the program’s early years.
What you can do now
-
Contact your state legislators and ask whether your state has introduced similar long-term care legislation. Find your rep at openstates.org. Tell them you want a state-funded solution for long-term care before Medicaid cuts force more families into debt.
-
If you live in Washington, check your eligibility. Visit the official WA Cares Fund site to confirm your contribution history and benefit eligibility before you need to file a claim.
-
Contact your U.S. senators at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to oppose any further Medicaid cuts that would eliminate long-term care coverage for low-income seniors. Tell them states cannot fill the gap without federal support.
-
Share WA Cares details with advocates in your state. Organizations like your state’s AARP chapter (find yours at aarp.org/states) are tracking state-level care legislation and can tell you how to push for similar proposals where you live.