Gov. Inslee signs bill for long-term care benefit

Joe Teehan

KGMIRachel La CorteGov. Jay Inslee, seated, hands Democratic Rep. Laurie Jinkins his pen after he signed a measure that makes Washington the first state in the nation to establish a program to help offset the costs of long-term care, Monday, May 13, 2019, in Olympia, Wash. Starting in 2025, the program promises a benefit for those who pay into the program, with a lifetime maximum of $36,500 per person, indexed to inflation, paid for by an employee payroll premium.

5-14-2019

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Governor Jay Inslee has signed a first-in-the-nation bill creating a long-term care benefit for workers.

A new payroll tax will contribute to the fund that workers can tap into if they need care but don’t already have long-term care insurance.

Despite a budget upwards of $500 billion, Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care and Medicaid only covers care for people who can’t work and don’t have any savings but have serious medical needs.

House Democrats Debra Lekanoff and Jeff Morris voted in favor of the bill, along with Senate Democrat Liz Lovelett.

House Republican Luanne Van Werven and Senate Republican Doug Ericksen voted against it.