Washington House passes changes to long-term care insurance program
House legislators voted on two measures Wednesday that will affect the rollout of the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act.
House Bill 1732 was introduced by Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, and addressed the date of implementation for the program, delaying the payroll tax on Washington employees until July 1, 2023. The House approved it 91-6, and the legislation now waits for a floor vote in the Senate.
Also known as the Washington Cares Fund, the long-term services program was enacted in 2019 by the state Legislature, and serves as a long-term insurance option that can be used by eligible Washingtonians to help pay for medical, personal and social services. The program provides a maximum lifetime benefit up to $36,500. Eligible individuals who are vested can apply for the benefit beginning in 2025.
Initially, Washingtonians were expected to see a 0.58 percent payroll deduction starting this month, but questions and concerns over the roll out have been a hot topic of debate, and resulted in the vote to delay implementation of the tax.
Several amendments by Republican House members were introduced during the floor vote but not adopted, including attempts to repeal the program.
Sullivan encouraged votes from other House members and told them how the state needs to guarantee long-term care benefits to “ensure that our residents have access to those benefits when they need it.”
Another related measure, House Bill 1733, passed off the House floor on a 67-29 vote Wednesday. Introduced by Rep. Dave Paul, D-Oak Harbor, the legislation would allow for exemptions from the program for certain individuals.
Disabled veterans, military spouses of active duty members, temporary workers and those who work in the state but reside in another could choose to opt out of the long-term services program. Those with other long-term care options also are eligible to opt-out.
“The Washington Cares Act presents a solution for so many working families in our communities,” Paul said.
Paul said his constituents want the resources to be able to age at home with long-term care options without being priced out of their home or worrying about pre-existing conditions. He said the Cares Act does just that.
“Let’s make it more robust and more accessible for more families,” he said.
The current 60-day session is in its second week and will end on March 10.
This story was originally published January 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
