Washington's New Long-Term Care Program
What Employers Need to Know
Billed as a “first of its kind” program, Washington’s Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act established a state-operated long-term care insurance program funded by a payroll tax on employee wages. Beginning January 1, 2022, the State will begin assessing a 0.58 percent payroll tax on all employee wages. By January 2025, eligible individuals who have become vested in the program may begin accessing long-term care benefits. These benefits may be used for a range of services, including professional care at home or at a licensed facility; training, pay and support for family members who provide care; memory care; home-delivered meals; rides to a health care provider; adaptive equipment and technology; home safety evaluation; and emergency alert devices.
For additional information, including employer action items and answers to frequently asked questions, please see Summit's alert: