Key Findings
1. Washington state’s long-term care law, HB 1087, passed in 2019 but has yet to begin because of many recognized flaws. It created WA Cares, a mandatory social program funded by workers in the state with a payroll tax of 58 cents for every $100 earned.

2. The state-imposed program will not give workers financial security promised. An inadequate lifetime benefit of $36,500 is not enough for most people’s care, should they require it. And many workers won’t qualify for the benefit, regardless of how much they pay. Telling people this fund brings them “peace of mind” is not only false, it’s dangerous.

3. The regressive tax in the law means some low-income workers will be forced to hand over a portion of their income to benefit others with higher incomes and who may not need assistance. This program expands a safety net far too wide.

4. The Legislature placed a constitutional amendment, Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 8212, on the ballot to create additional funding for the program. It was defeated 54 to 46 percent, impacting program solvency. State Actuary Matt Smith wrote in an analysis that the WA Cares program will face a $15 billion shortfall.

5. There is already legislative discussion that the 58-cent tax will need to increase or the benefit amount of $36,500 decrease to keep the program viable.

6. A program exemption included in HB 1087 (2019), and then limited in HB 1323 (2021), was not well-publicized. It seemed Washingtonians were intentionally kept...

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