OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Workers in Washington state have just a few months to decide whether they want to buy a private long-term insurance plan and opt out of a new state-managed program before a payroll deduction hits their paychecks in January.
Under the program, workers will pay a premium of .58% of pay per paycheck. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, people who need assistance can tap into the fund to pay for things like in-home care.
The lifetime maximum of the benefit is $36,500.
An update to the law requires people who want to opt out of the state-managed program to have a private long-term care insurance plan in place before Nov. 1, and then apply for an exemption.