SEATTLE — Initiative 2124, backed by Let's Go Washington, is on the ballot this November election and would change how the state's WA Cares program works. Here's what you should know.
Initiative 2124 would allow people to opt out of WA Cares, according to Let's Go Washington, the conservative group that organized the effort.
Employers in Washington state began deducting premiums from paychecks in July 2023 to fund WA Cares Fund, the state’s new long-term care insurance program. The program was signed into law in 2019.
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.
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.
Earlier this year, 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.
According to WA Cares Director Ben Veghte, $1.4 billion has been raised in the first fiscal year of the program.
I-2124 gained enough signatures to go in front of voters in December 2023. If approved the initiative would go into effect 30 days after the election.
The argument for, against I-2124
Supporters of the initiative argue the program is too expensive and that workers should have the right to choose whether or not to participate in the program.
Brian Heywood, the founder of Let's Go Washington, told KING 5, “I don't want to destroy the program. I want to give them an option to get out. If they like it, they can stay in and they can get paid."
Let's Go Washington also argued against the program's requirement that workers have to pay into the program for 10 years before being eligible to receive the benefits.
Opponents of the initiative said it would effectively repeal the program.
AARP Washington, which backs the "Vote No on I-2124" movement, said the initiative would take away much-needed financial support when Washingtonians face serious long-term illness, injury, or disability.
"The challenge is that long-term care is also really expensive. If you have the resources, private long-term care insurance is great, but only 7% of the population can actually afford long-term care, and so this program provides for middle-income families and for families that struggle," said AARP Washington Advocacy Director Cathy MacCaul. "The long-term care benefit was never designed to pay for everyone's every single long-term care need. What the WA Cares program does is basically help families and help individuals when they face a crisis, to give them some breathing room, to give them the ability to develop a plan, to know that they can get some immediate long-term care assistance."
What does voting 'yes' on I-2124 mean?
Voting “yes” on I-2124 would make WA Cares an opt-in program rather than mandatory.
What does voting 'no' on I-2124 mean?
Voting “no” on I-2124 would keep the WA Cares program as it is.