Webinar Series

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan. 

We will cover:
•    How the program works
•    What long-term care includes
•    How caregiving responsibilities impact families
•    Who contributes to the fund
•    How exemptions work
•    How to qualify for benefits

Once you meet the contribution and care needs requirements, you’ll be able to start using your benefits. You can create your online account starting in April 2026, apply for benefits starting in mid-May and get benefits in July.  

You (or someone helping you) will create an online account to apply. After we get your application, we’ll check how many years you’ve contributed to WA Cares. Then we’ll send you a contribution determination letter, which will tell you whether you’ve met the contribution requirement and the benefit amount you’ve earned.  

We will cover:
•    How the program works
•    Account creation
•    Requesting your contribution determination 
•    Completing your intake call
•    Reviewing your benefit determination
 

Knowing there is money set aside for care in the future gives employees peace of mind today. WA Cares makes long-term care insurance accessible for all Washington workers. As a Washington employer, you are required to report your employees’ wages and hours and pay premiums every quarter.

We will cover who contributes to the fund, how workers will meet contribution requirements, who can get an exemption, tracking employee exemptions, employer reporting requirements and what kinds of benefits will be available.
 

By automatically contributing a small part of each paycheck over your working years, you earn benefits you can use when you need long-term care. You choose when and how to use your benefit and have the flexibility to choose a provider based on what you’re willing to pay. You will be able to use your benefit without having to pay out of pocket up front and you never need to submit a claim. 

All you need to do is find a registered provider and approve the pre-authorizations for the services you are receiving. WA Cares will pay providers directly on your behalf.

We will cover: 
•    How the program works
•    Choosing your provider
•    Discussing rates and services with your provider
•    Pre-authorizations

Applications are now open. Before benefits begin in July 2026, we will work to register a diverse range of qualified providers for each covered service. To ensure quality care, providers must meet minimum qualifications to participate. Once registered, beneficiaries can choose from these providers — empowering them to select the services that best meet their needs within their own communities. 

We will cover: 
•    How the program works 
•    Types of providers that will be able to register
•    Minimum qualifications and requirements providers will have to meet
•    How to register as a provider 

If you’re self-employed, you can choose to elect coverage and protect yourself with the same affordable benefits available to other Washington workers. Applications became available on July 1, 2023. Coverage must be elected by June 30, 2026, or within three years of becoming self-employed for the first time.

You'll start contributing to WA Cares the quarter after you elect coverage and then submit your first report when that quarter ends. Like all working Washingtonians, your WA Cares contributions will continue until you retire or are no longer self-employed.

We will cover how the program works, how to define a self-employed worker, creating am elective coverage account, how to opt-in and reporting requirements.
 

More than 800,000 Washingtonians provide care to a loved one. Many of us provide care out of both necessity and love, and do so without thinking twice. Whether you’re picking up groceries for your neighbor or helping your dad manage his medications—you are a caregiver.

If the person you're caring for has earned WA Cares Fund benefits, you can  become their paid caregiver, even if you're caring for your own spouse. 

We will cover: 
•    How the program works
•    Who is eligible for paid family caregiving
•    How WA Cares can help with care needs 
•    Steps to becoming a paid family caregiver
•    Additional support and services available
•    Resources for caregivers
 

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan.

We will cover:
•    How the program works
•    What long-term care includes
•    How caregiving responsibilities impact families
•    Who contributes to the fund
•    How exemptions work
•    How to qualify for benefits

We are registering a diverse range of qualified providers before WA Cares Fund benefits become available on July 1. Registered WA Cares providers will use the Health Care Authority’s ProviderOne website to create pre-authorizations and submit claims for payment. 

Join us and a panel of experts as we discuss aging in place — the ability to live in your own home as you get older. According to AARP, 75% of Americans age 50-plus want to live in their current home for as long as possible. However, to keep living independently, most people will eventually need long-term care, which is help with activities of daily living like bathing, eating and taking medications. We will discuss the challenges of living independently as we age and resources available to older Washingtonians. 

The WA Cares Fund was designed to help Washington workers stay in their own homes as they age and get the care they need. The program is just one part of the state’s work to promote independence and choice for older adults.

Join us and a panel of experts as we discuss outdoor activities for seniors and caregivers. Physical activities have been shown to have positive effects on sleep routines, blood pressure, brain health and more long-term benefits. However, a 2018 study found that over 20% of older adults are less physically active than recommended.

The WA Cares Fund was designed to help Washington workers stay safe, healthy and independent as they age and get the care they need. The program is just one part of the state’s work to promote independence and support for older adults. Our panel will discuss the importance of keeping active as we age and recommend outdoor activities you can find across Washington state.

Join us and a panel of experts as we discuss transportation and mobility as you age. Limited mobility and transportation access are common challenges older adults face. The National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP found that 78% of older adults have to rely on family caregivers for rides around their community. Our panel will discuss the challenges older adults face moving around their home and community, senior-friendly transportation options and how the WA Cares Fund can help.

We are registering a diverse range of qualified providers before WA Cares Fund benefits become available on July 1. Registered WA Cares providers will use the Health Care Authority’s ProviderOne website to create pre-authorizations and submit claims for payment. 

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan. 

We will cover how the program works, what long-term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work and how to qualify for benefits.

Join us and a panel of experts to discuss the relationship between aging and mental health, understanding social isolation and loneliness and how it can lead to depression and anxiety while aging, how your mental and emotional health can impact physical health and available resources and supports. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it can help. 

Join us and a panel of experts to discuss the relationship between aging and nutrition, why nutrition is important as you age, age related nutritional changes, food insecurity among seniors and nutrition education and resources. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it can help.

We will discuss what family caregivers can ask their loved ones’ facilities about, how to build an emergency kit, types of emergencies and how to plan, and how to prepare your loved ones living at home. We will also discuss what family caregivers need to know about how long-term care facilities plan for emergencies. Finally, we will provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it can help.

We will discuss the cost burden on a fixed income, limited affordable options, aging in place challenges (accessibility, maintenance), rental assistance programs and homelessness. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it can help. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available. 

Join us to learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near retirees) and more. 

Join us for the latest updates on the state’s long-term care insurance program and learn more about employer responsibilities. We’ll cover who contributes to the fund, who can get an exemption, how workers will meet contribution requirements and what kinds of benefits will be available. Get your questions answered and find out where to go for more resources for businesses and workers. 

Before benefits begin in July 2026, the WA Cares Fund will work to register a diverse range of qualified providers for each covered service. To ensure quality care, providers must meet minimum qualifications to participate. Once registered, beneficiaries can choose from these providers — empowering them to select the services that best meet their needs within their own communities.

We will cover how the program works, types of providers that will be able to register, minimum qualifications and requirements providers will have to meet, and how to register as a qualified provider.

Siete de cada 10 habitantes de Washington necesitarán cuidado a largo plazo, pero la mayoría de nosotros no tenemos un plan para pagarlo. El Fondo WA Cares es un nuevo beneficio devengado que ayudará a los trabajadores de Washington a obtener acceso a cuidado a largo plazo asequible en el futuro.

El seminario web cubrirá lo que incluye el cuidado a largo plazo, cómo afectan las responsabilidades de cuidado a las familias y al trabajo, quiénes contribuyen al fondo, cómo cumplirán los trabajadores con los requisitos de contribución, qué beneficios están cubiertos y más.

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan. 

We will cover how the program works, what long-term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work and how to qualify for benefits.

More than 800,000 Washingtonians provide care to a loved one. Many of us provide care out of both necessity and love, and do so without thinking twice. Whether you’re picking up groceries for your neighbor or helping your dad manage his medications—you are a caregiver.

If the person you're caring for has earned WA Cares Fund benefits, you can  become their paid caregiver, even if you're caring for your own spouse. 

We will cover how the program works, who is eligible for paid family caregiving, how WA Cares can help with care needs, steps to becoming a paid family caregiver and additional resources, supports and services available.
 

Before benefits begin in July 2026, the WA Cares Fund will work to register a diverse range of qualified providers for each covered service. To ensure quality care, providers must meet minimum qualifications to participate. Once registered, beneficiaries can choose from these providers — empowering them to select the services that best meet their needs within their own communities. 

We will cover how the program works, types of providers that will be able to register, minimum qualifications and requirements providers will have to meet, and how to register as a qualified provider.

To access WA Cares benefits, you need to meet a contribution requirement and a care needs requirement. To determine if you meet the care needs requirement, you will talk with a WA Cares team member in an assessment.  
 

We will cover how the program works, the care needs requirement, how to prepare for your assessment, what to expect during your assessment and what happens after your assessment.
 

Beginning July 2026, each person who is eligible to receive the full WA Cares Fund benefit amount can access long-term care services and supports costing up to $36,500 (grows over time with inflation).

We will cover how the program works, how to apply for benefits, all covered services and supports and how far the benefit goes.
 

By automatically contributing a small part of each paycheck over your working years, you earn benefits you can use when you need long-term care. You choose when and how to use your benefit and have the flexibility to choose a provider based on what you’re willing to pay. You will be able to use your benefit without having to pay out of pocket up front and you never need to submit a claim.

All you need to do is find a registered provider and approve the pre-authorizations for the services you are receiving. WA Cares will pay providers directly on your behalf.

We will cover how the program works, choosing your provider, discussing rates and services with your provider and pre-authorizations.
 

Join us to learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near retirees) and more. 

Join the WA Cares team and a panel of experts for a discussion on caregiving in rural communities to learn more about these challenges and work being done to address them. The webinar will also include an overview of WA Cares and how the program could help support beneficiaries in rural areas.

Long-term care isn’t just for older adults – it covers a broad range of needs and situations. For people of all ages who have a disability, long-term services and supports can be essential tools to keep them living independently. A few hours of help each day with tasks like bathing, meal preparation and transportation can make a big difference. So can other supports like home modifications and adaptive equipment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 21% of people with disabilities are employed – almost 7 million workers nationwide. Join us for a discussion of the supports and resources available for these workers as well as for employers. We’ll also cover how the WA Cares Fund works and how it will help support workers with disabilities in the future.

Join us to learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near retirees) and more.

Join us for a discussion on caring for stroke survivors. We’ll cover what a stroke is, signs to look for, what stroke treatment and recovery looks like, and resources for stroke survivors and their caregivers. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it will help stroke survivors and their families in the future.

Join us for a discussion about the importance of brain health. We’ll cover dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, including how to prevent these conditions and resources for people affected by them. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it will help people who need care and their loved ones in the future.

Join us for a discussion on getting help with hearing loss. We’ll cover types of hearing loss (including age-related hearing loss), signs that you may be experiencing hearing loss, assistive technology and hearing devices, ways family and friends can support someone who is experiencing hearing loss, and other resources that may be helpful. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it will help people experiencing hearing loss in the future.

Join us to learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near retirees) and more.

Join us and a panel of experts to learn signs a loved one may need more help, tips for talking with your loved one about long-term care, types of long-term services and supports available and how to find resources and supports. We’ll also provide an overview of the WA Cares Fund and how it will help family caregivers. ASL interpretation and live captioning will be available.

Most Washingtonians will eventually need long-term care. These services and supports can be expensive, but most long-term care is not covered by Medicare or health insurance and Medicaid typically only covers it after you’ve spent your life savings down to $2,000.

WA Cares Fund provides working Washingtonians a way to earn access to long-term care benefits that will be available when they need them. It could cover most of the need for some people, while for others it will provide breathing room during one of life’s most challenging stages, giving the family time to develop a plan. 

We will cover how the program works, what long-term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work and how to qualify for benefits.
 

This July, workers begin contributing to the WA Cares Fund. Is your organization ready? Join us for the latest updates on the state’s long-term care insurance program and learn more about employer responsibilities. We’ll cover who contributes to the fund, who can get an exemption, how workers will meet contribution requirements and what kinds of benefits will be available. Get your questions answered and find out where to go for more resources for businesses and workers.

There’s plenty to know about WA Cares and Paid Leave, and we’re committed to making your experience as easy as possible with helpful info and resources. Join us for an employer-focused webinar, where we’ll cover Paid Leave and WA Cares premium collection, quarterly reporting, payments and more!

Are you looking for more in-depth conversations around WA Cares and Paid Leave premium calculations? Join us for employer-focused webinars, where we will cover specific topics more in depth. Topics will include paying employee premiums, social security cap, what to do when you are over- or under-withholding, and using online resources like our premium calculator.

Note: Registration for this webinar is full. Check back for more webinars soon!

We’re partnering with Greater Spokane Inc. on a free informational webinar! Learn more about the program and employer responsibilities. We will cover essential topics such as who contributes to the fund, how to withhold and report payroll deductions, who can get an exemption, how to manage exemptions, and more. Our speakers will also walk you through the employer toolkit we have available to help you communicate with employees and answer their biggest questions.

There’s plenty to know about Paid Leave and WA Cares, and we’re committed to making your experience as easy as possible with helpful info and resources. Join us for an employer-focused webinar, where we'll cover Paid Leave and WA Cares employer responsibilities, premium collection, quarterly reporting, payments, and more!

Are you looking for more in depth conversations around Paid Leave and WA Cares Premium Calculations? Join us for employer-focused webinars, where we will cover specific topics more in depth. Topics will include calculating premiums, withholding premiums, social security cap, what to do when you are over or under withholding, using online resources such as our premium calculator.

This month, Washington workers began earning long-term care benefits through the WA Cares Fund. Join us to learn more about long-term care and the WA Cares Fund, including who contributes, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements and what benefits will be available. There will also be an opportunity for audience Q&A to get your questions answered. 

There's plenty to know about WA Cares and Paid Leave, and we're committed to making your experience as easy as possible with helpful info and resources. Joins us for an employer-focused webinar, where we'll cover Paid Leave and WA Cares employer account roles and contact types. 

The webinar is limited to 200 participants, so don't delay in registering! 

Join us to learn more about the WA Cares Fund - all in Spanish! We'll discuss what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how workers will meet contribution requirements, what benefits are covered and more. There will also be an opportunity for audience Q&A.

Are you looking for more in-depth conversations around WA Cares and Paid Leave reporting requirements? Join us for an employer-focused webinar where we will discuss reporting requirements that start October 2023: date of birth, no payroll, and WA Cares exemption reporting.

This webinar is limited to 200 participants, so don’t delay in registering!

We’ll talk about what types of long-term services and supports are available, what to include in your planning and how to find resources. We’ll also provide an overview of different ways to pay for long-term care, including Medicaid, private long-term care insurance and WA Cares benefits.

Join the WA Cares Fund team and our panel of experts to learn how you and your family can navigate a discussion about long-term care needs you may have now or in the future. Our panel will talk about advance planning, including what topics to cover and tips for starting the conversation and managing discomfort. We’ll cover warning signs a loved one may need help now and suggestions for how to support and communicate with them. The webinar will also include an overview of WA Cares and how it can fit into workers’ future long-term care plans.

If you’re self-employed, you can choose to elect coverage and protect yourself with the same affordable benefits available to other Washington workers. Learn about eligibility, benefits, and how to elect coverage for self employed workers. The webinar will also include an overview of WA Cares and a live Q&A session.

There’s plenty to know about WA Cares and Paid Leave, and we’re committed to making your experience as easy as possible with helpful info and resources. Join us for an employer-focused webinar, where we'll cover employers’ responsibilities related to managing employee’s WA Cares exemptions.

*This webinar is limited to 200 participants, so don’t delay in registering!

The Gender Gap in Caregiving

Long-Term Care Planning for Near-Retirees

The Next Generation of Caregivers

Long-Term Care Planning for Younger Workers

Caregiver Mental Health