Self-employed? Sign yourself up for benefits! 

If you’re self-employed, you can choose to opt in and protect yourself with the same affordable benefits available to other Washington workers.

Get the Benefits of Opting in

Affordability

If you’re a self-employed earner, WA Cares is your key to long-term care coverage. Your contribution is just as low as traditional workers. You’ll pay the current premium rate, which is 0.58 percent, of:

• Your net earnings.
• Gross wages, if any, paid to you from your business entity.

That’s about $300 per year for the median Washington worker, much less than most private insurance.

Benefits

• Peace of mind: Once you’re vested, you’re insured against long-term care up to $36,500 over your lifetime.
• Financial security: Unlike Medicaid, WA Cares doesn’t make you spend down your savings before coverage kicks in.
• Choice: You decide how and where to use your benefits.

Eligibility

If you have qualifying wages for Paid Family and Medical Leave, they’ll also qualify for WA Cares. In other words, you’re eligible if you’re: 

• A sole proprietor.
• A joint venturer or a member of a partnership.
• A member of a limited liability company (LLC).
• An independent contractor. Definition.
• Otherwise in business for yourself.

Corporate officers are not self-employed. See Paid Family and Medical Leave’s Help Center for more on corporations and LLCs.

Learn more 

How do I opt in?

You can opt in as soon as applications are available on July 1, 2023.

Need more info?

Visit our Learn More page to read our frequently asked questions.