SEATTLE — Over 100 organizations and advocates voiced their concerns and urged Washingtonians to vote against Initiative 2124, a measure that would allow people to opt out of the state's long-term care insurance program.
Initiative 2124, or I-2124, would allow people to opt out of WA Cares, according to Let's Go Washington, the conservative group that organized the effort. Opponents of WA Cares argued the program is too expensive and workers should have the right to choose whether or not to participate in the program.
Voters will have the opportunity to make it an option to opt out of paying into the WA Cares Fund, a move opponents said would effectively repeal the program.
Representatives from AARP, the Washington State Nurses Association, the National MS Society, MomsRising, and the League of Women Voters said at a press conference Monday afternoon that I-2124 would kill Washington's long-term care insurance program and take benefits away from 3.9 million workers.
Ai-jen Poo, executive director of Caring Across Generations, said I-2124 would be disproportionately harmful to Washington women.
"The whole country is watching Washington," Poo said. "Defeating I-2124 is critical not just to the future of millions of Washingtonians but to the future of care across America. I-2124 is especially harmful to Washington women. One in four Americans today – most often women – have no choice but to leave jobs to care for family members. Millions in the "sandwich generation" are caring for both their children and their parents or other loved ones, limiting… even destroying… their career, their income and ability to save for their own needs and dreams."
Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee celebrated the changes lawmakers made to the state’s new long-term care insurance program. Lawmakers passed a bill allowing residents to take their WA Cares savings with them if they leave the state, a longtime criticism of the original legislation.
“Our legislators made it portable. It's great to know you can take it with you wherever you go,” Inslee said. “So I think this is something we're celebrating in the state of Washington. I want to thank everybody who has pitched in to help Washington become an even better society as it is.”
WA Cares gives retirees access to the $36,500 benefit even if they move out of state. It also allows those who move out of state to continue participating in the long-term program if they continue paying into it.
Under the Long Term Care Act, eligible workers will pay 0.58% of their paychecks to fund the program. Several categories of workers who are unlikely to pull from the fund are eligible to receive exemptions; information can be found here.
"I-2124 impacts women, taxpayers, and families," said Cynthia Stewart, League of Women Voters. "If passed, I-2124 will send us backwards, where only people of means can afford long-term care insurance, which charges women more than men. It will widen the gender income gap, take women out of the workforce, and increase the financial strain on families faced with long-term care expenses."
The WA Cares Fund will eventually be used to help Washingtonians access a $36,500 benefit - adjusted annually for inflation - for long-term care insurance. Benefits will become available for qualified individuals in July 2026.
“The fact of the matter is almost 70% of the Washingtonians at some point in their lives are going to need some help when we get hurt or sick or have long-term health care needs,” Inslee said. “Almost 40% of the people who need this kind of care are under the age of 65. Everybody can benefit from this plan.”