May 2025 Newletter | WA Cares Fund

Webinars:

WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know webinar from 11 a.m.- noon on June 11^th. We will cover what long-term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, contribution requirements and more. Register today.

WA Cares Basics: What Employers Need to Know webinar from noon – 1 p.m. on July 9^th. Hear 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, tracking employee exemptions, employer reporting requirements and what kinds of benefits will be available. Register today.

WA Cares Basics: What Providers Need to Know webinar from 11 a.m. – noon on August 5.

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. Register today.

Find recordings of more past webinars and learn more about upcoming webinars on our website.

Featured video:

Most of us will need help to live independently at some point in our lives. For some, this will be temporary after an accident or illness. For others, the need will strike late in life. In both cases, this is known as long-term care. Learn more about how WA Cares can help.

LTSS Trust Commission:

The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission, which works on behalf of Washington employees and long-term care stakeholders to improve, monitor and implement WA Cares, will hold its first meeting of the year from 1-4 p.m. on May 28. Find meeting details and learn more about the Commission.

Rulemaking:

WA Cares held two meetings in April with interested parties to review and hear feedback on draft rules for approved services, beneficiary eligibility determinations, and requirements to provide approved services. Comments and feedback provided during the meetings and through written submission helped inform the WA Cares rulemaking team on areas where clarity or restructuring was needed.

Sign up for notifications if you would like to participate in future rulemaking meetings. You can find recordings of the interested parties meeting on the WA Cares rulemaking website.

Monthly FAQ: Can Self-employed workers choose to opt into WA Cares?

While 70% of us will need long-term care in our lifetimes, most of us don’t have a way to pay for it. Long-term care is expensive, and the costs hit us when most of us are on a fixed income, and we can’t afford it.

Being self-employed can put you at higher risk if something goes wrong, without employer-provided benefits and retirement accounts. If you’re self-employed, you can elect coverage and protect yourself with the same affordable benefits available to other Washington workers. Read more about why self-employed workers should consider opting in.

Fund Fact: Our recent WA Cares Conversations webinar highlighted several innovative housing solutions that communities across Washington are implementing to address seniors and the housing crisis.

Many older adults face tough choices about where and how to live. Creative solutions are popping up around Washington states that could help our older neighbors stay rooted in their neighborhoods. WA Cares will make it easier for you to remain in your own home as you age.