WA Cares prepares families for a more secure future Affordable. Sustainable. For everyone. Seven in 10 of us will need long-term care as we age. Long-term care is help with daily activities like eating, dressing and bathing. This can mean care in a facility like a nursing home or assisted living, but it is most often care provided in your own home. Long-term care is expensive, but most of us don't have a way to pay for it. It's not covered by Medicare or health insurance except in rare circumstances. Medicaid only covers it once you've spent down your life savings to just $2,000. The WA Cares Fund is a new program designed to provide affordable, sustainable long-term care coverage to working Washingtonians. Image Learn more about long-term care WA Cares can help you live independently at home for longer. Working Washingtonians contribute a small percentage of each paycheck during their working years to be able to access long-term care benefits later in life when they need support. WA Cares benefits can be used for a wide range of services and supports to help you stay in your own home for longer. WA Cares covers: Icon Paid family caregiver Pay a qualified family member (even your spouse) to provide care. Icon Home safety modification Make updates like installing grab bars or a wheelchair ramp to help you get around your home safely. Icon Home-delivered meals & transportation Have meals delivered to your home or schedule rides to get to appointments or go grocery shopping. Icon Mobility & assistive devices Buy a personal emergency response system, medication reminder device and more. Learn how WA Cares works Affordable for working families WA Cares is the first program in the nation that gives working families an affordable way to access long-term care without having to spend down their life savings. By covering nearly everyone, WA Cares premiums stay low and stable. Icon Low premiums The median worker contributes $291 per year – less than a dollar a day – and premiums stop at retirement. See Sun-Hee & Yunhee's story Image “WA Cares is good for the whole family, not just for the loved ones we take care of, but the caretakers too.” Sustainable for generations to come WA Cares is affordable because costs and benefits are shared broadly. Icon Careful oversight The Office of the State Actuary and LTSS Trust Commission monitor the program's finances to ensure it has enough revenue to cover benefits over the long term. See KD's Story "WA Cares will be there for our elderly, but WA Cares will also be there for our young people. As they continue to grow, WA Cares will be there." Covers all working Washingtonians WA Cares offers long-term care coverage to all working Washingtonians. Icon Guaranteed coverage WA Cares covers workers regardless of age, gender or pre-existing conditions. See Sawyer's Story Image "You never know when you may become disabled. Having a fund like WA Cares, that does not exclude people with pre-existing conditions, is so important." WA Cares offers affordable, sustainable long-term care coverage for all. Learn more about WA Cares
