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Long-Term Care (LTC) Benefits
On May 13, 2019, Governor Inslee signed into law a new mandatory long-term care insurance benefit for people working in the State of Washington. This benefit is known as the WA Cares Fund. This site will help you understand LTC insurance, what the District provides, how the WA Cares Fund will work and what options are available to you.
Go to Your LTC benefits to learn what you may already have
Go to the WA Cares Fund to learn what the state will provide
Go to Getting an Exemption to learn how to opt our of the WA Cares Fund
What the District Provides
The District provides LTC coverage for all eligible employees. Your LTC coverage includes LTC facility monthly benefits as well as Professional Home Care. You will receive up to $2,000/month for 2 years with a lifetime maximum of $48,000.
Click here for more information about the District's LTC coverage
What the State Provides
The Fund will provide long-term care benefits of up to $100 per day, up to a lifetime maximum benefit of $36,500 to eligible workers while living in Washington state. The Fund is financed through a payroll deduction unless you choose to apply for an exemption.
Click here for more information about the WA Cares Fund.
What is Long-Term Care and Why is it Important?
Long-term care is the type of care you need when you are not able to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as dressing, bathing, toileting, transferring and eating, due to an accident, illness, advancing age or if you have a severe cognitive impairment.
LTC benefits help pay for professional in-home care, care at an assisted living facility or nursing home, professional services and family support.
Seven in 10 people will need LTC and unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t pay for it. Often our loved ones end up having to pay for – or provide – the care we need. LTC insurance helps pay for caregiving services so you can get the care you need without depleting your life savings.
Links
Learn more about long-term care, who needs it, and services and supports that may be offered or needed.
How to Apply for an Exemption
Because the District provides eligible employees with LTC insurance, you have the option to apply for a permanent personal exemption, which, if approved, would allow you to opt-out of the state LTC program for life. This won’t happen automatically – to receive an exemption, you must apply yourself.
Click here to learn more about your District-provided LTC benefits
Click here to learn more about applying for a WA Cares Fund program exemption
You can be covered by both plans. Even though you are eligible to opt-out of the WA Cares Fund program (by applying for an exemption), if you don’t apply for the exemption, you will be covered by both plans.
Key Dates
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Oct. 1, 2021
First day to apply for WA Cares Fund exemption -
Nov. 1, 2021
LTC plans must be effective by this date to be considered for an exemption -
Jan. 1, 2022
WA Cares Fund premiums start -
Dec. 31, 2022
Last day to apply for an exemption -
Jan. 1, 2025
First day the WA Cares Fund benefit will be available for use