Exemptions | WA Cares Fund

Limited opportunity to join WA Cares

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a law providing an opportunity for everyone who has a private long-term care insurance exemption to cancel their exemption and join the program. The Employment Security Department will contact workers with approved private long-term care insurance exemptions to provide more information after the law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Looking for your exemption approval letter?

There are two ways to get copies of your approval letter:

Log in to your WA Cares exemption account and select the "Exemption ID" of your approved exemption to view or download a copy.
Call us at 833-717-2273 to request more copies be mailed to you.

For more information, download our exemption info sheet.

Exemption pathways

Washington workers are eligible for a WA Cares exemptions if any of the following apply:

You live outside of Washington.
You are an active-duty service member with an off-duty civilian job. You may apply for this exemption beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
You are the spouse or registered domestic partner of an active-duty service member.
You have a non-immigrant work visa. As of Jan. 1, 2026, this exemption is automatic and ESD will no longer accept applications — if you would like to participate in WA Cares, inform your employer(s) in writing that you would like to continue making contributions.
You are a veteran with a 70% service-connected disability rating or higher.

Applying for an exemption

You can apply for an exemption online at the link below. The Employment Security Department is responsible for processing applications.

Apply for an exemption

Need assistance?

after you apply

If your exemption is approved

You will receive an exemption approval letter by mail from ESD, which you will need to provide to all your current and future employer(s). Once you provide your approval letter to your employer(s) they must stop withholding premiums once your exemption takes effect. If your employer(s) continue to withhold premiums, they must return them to you.

Note: If you fail to provide your approval letter to your employer(s), any premiums that may have been collected will not count toward benefit eligibility and your employer(s) have no responsibility to return those premiums to you.

Exemptions will take effect the quarter after your application is approved.

If you no longer qualify for an exemption

You must notify your employer(s) and ESD within 90 days if your situation changes and you no longer qualify for your exemption.

There are two ways to notify us:

Within your WA Cares Exemption account, select the "Exemption ID" of your approved exemption and then select the "Discontinue" link.
Call us at 833-717-2273 to discontinue your exemption.

After you have discontinued your WA Cares Exemption, your employer(s) will deduct WA Cares premiums out of your pay.

Private Insurance Opt-Out

Those who had private long-term care insurance on or before Nov. 1, 2021, were able to apply for an exemption from the WA Cares Fund from Oct. 1, 2021, until Dec. 31, 2022. Those who applied for this exemption, and were approved, are permanently exempt from WA Cares. This opt-out provision is no longer available for new applicants.

Do you want to discontinue your previously approved private long-term care insurance exemption?

You can discontinue your private long-term care insurance exemption between Jan. 1, 2026, and June 30, 2028.

To discontinue your private long-term care insurance exemption:

Access your WA Cares exemption account.
From your account homepage, select your "Exemption ID".
On your WA Cares Exemption Summary page, select "Discontinue" and confirm you want to end your exemption.

ESD will mail you a discontinuation letter, which you will need to give your current employer(s). Your employer(s) will then start withholding premiums once your exemption ends.

Looking for more information on exemptions?

You can reach ESD’s WA Cares Fund representatives through our email contact form or by calling (833) 717-2273.