Make a plan today, so you
and your family are ready,
no matter where life takes you.
It’s never too soon to make a long-term care plan, including having WA Cares coverage.
Long-term care refers to services that support people with daily tasks like eating, bathing, and dressing. Whether due to age, injury, or illness, most of us will need long-term care at some point in our lives.
Contrary to what many believe, long-term care is not covered by health insurance or Medicare. The WA Cares Fund puts long-term care coverage within reach for working families across Washington.
Long-term care is a mix of services to meet each person’s unique needs.
Support and services can include:
- In-home care like help with dressing, bathing, and getting around the house
- Home modifications like ramps and grab bars
- Mobility devices like walkers or wheelchairs
- Transportation and meal preparation
- Assisted living facilities
For most people, long-term care allows them to continue living at home. With a few hours of support each day, people can maintain their independence.
Long-term care covers a range of circumstances.
Meet Jesse
Jesse is a 37-year-old cyclist who got injured while riding his bike in Seattle.
Jesse loves riding his bike to get around the city. During rush-hour traffic, Jesse was injured after colliding with a car. Luckily, he was wearing a helmet and survived the accident, but Jesse has a long road to recovery ahead of him.
Long-term care services Jesse may need:
Meet Magaly
Magaly is an 83-year-old widow living in Yakima close to her children and grandchildren.
Magaly wants to be able to continue living in her home, but her adult children are worried about her getting around the house after a recent fall. She’s also become more forgetful about taking her medication at the right dosage and time. They agree that Magaly will need help to keep living independently.
Long-term care services Magaly may need:
Meet David
David is a 43-year-old man with Down syndrome who is transitioning from his parent’s home in Bellingham to a nearby adult family home.
David lives at home, but his parents are aging and worry they can no longer meet all of David’s long-term care needs. They are considering moving David into a nearby adult family home. David would live at the home with a licensed provider along with three other people who have developmental or intellectual disabilities. David likes the idea of making new friends and living more independently.
Long-term care services David may need:
Meet Alejandra
Alejandra is a 22-year-old Eastern Washington University student who was paralyzed in a car accident three years ago.
Alejandra is studying biology and hopes to pursue a medical career. When she was 19, Alejandra was in a car accident that paralyzed her from the waist down. She lives in an apartment near the university campus and has a caregiver who comes over for three hours each day to help her shower, dress, and get ready for school. This support means Alejandra can focus on completing her degree.
Long-term care services Alejandra may need:
A long-term care plan gives you and your family…
Peace of mind
With a plan, families can prepare and save for their future long-term care needs. So, when the time comes, families are ready to cover care expenses.
A shared blueprint
When a long-term care need arises, you want to know that you and your family agree about what to do. Planning together helps families decide on shared goals.
A secure future
Life is unpredictable, but making a long-term care plan gives you and your family an extra measure of security.
Paying for long-term care
When a long-term care need arises, the first thought for many families is, “How are we going to pay for this?” For years, the answers have been limited. Now, working Washingtonians have the added benefit of WA Cares, which will help people cover their long-term care needs and plan for their family’s future.
Medicaid
Private insurance
WA Cares
Personal assets
Medicaid
A family must spend down their savings and assets—including their home and car—to less than $2,000 in order for Medicaid to cover the cost of some long-term care needs. This is the last option for families who have exhausted their other resources.
Private long-term care insurance
Some people also choose to carry a private long-term care insurance plan. With these plans, people can select their benefit amount. Annual premiums typically range between $2,000 and $5,000 a year.
People can be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and many policies include a 90-day waiting period after a long-term care need arises for benefits to begin.
The WA Cares Fund
During their career, the average person will contribute just $291 a year to WA Cares. In return, they secure a guaranteed lifetime benefit of $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation).
People cannot be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, and there is no waiting period. Benefits are also portable. If a person moves out of state, they can take their benefits with them.
Personal savings and assets
The WA Cares Fund
During their career, the average person will contribute just $291 a year to WA Cares. In return, they secure a guaranteed lifetime benefit of $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation).
People cannot be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, and there is no waiting period. Benefits are also portable. If a person moves out of state, they can take their benefits with them.
Personal savings and assets
Private long-term care insurance
Some people also choose to carry a private long-term care insurance plan. With these plans, people can select their benefit amount. Annual premiums typically range between $2,000 and $5,000 a year.
People can be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and many policies include a 90-day waiting period after a long-term care need arises for benefits to begin.
Medicaid
A family must spend down their savings and assets—including their home and car—to less than $2,000 in order for Medicaid to cover the cost of some long-term care needs. This is the last option for families who have exhausted their other resources.
Time to Plan for Long Term Care
WA Cares offers working Washingtonians access to long-term care.
The WA Cares Fund is a first-in-the-nation program to offer an affordable, public long-term care option to working families. No one will be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions, and when a need arises, people can access their benefits immediately — no waiting periods, copays, deductibles, or insurance claims.
During their career, the average Washington worker will contribute just $291 a year to the WA Cares Fund. In return, they receive guaranteed lifetime access to the full $36,500 benefit (adjust annually for inflation). Recent improvements make the benefits portable, so even if you move out of state, you can take your WA Cares benefits with you.
WA Cares supports people and families
WA Cares is a vital part of a comprehensive long-term care plan. It gives you and your loved ones the flexibility and financial support you need to make decisions that are right for you.
For many people, the WA Cares benefit will be enough to cover all their long-term care needs. For individuals with more intensive needs, WA Cares provides families with immediate relief as the first layer of long-term care coverage.