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WA House Republicans aim to repeal or change new long-term care program

Courtesy of Washington Cares Fund

Washington House Republicans are calling on the legislature to repeal the state’s new long-term care insurance program scheduled to begin next year.
 
The program will provide benefits to people for things like in-home care. It will be funded by a payroll tax that workers will have drawn from their paychecks, beginning in January.
 
Several Republicans have filed bills seeking to change or repeal the new program. They include Rep. Joe Schmick [R-Colfax].
 
“Seventy percent of people will have to access some type of long-term care and that average cost, right now, is about $210,000. This benefit is $36,500 and it’s one-time money. So it’s giving people false hope," he said.
 
Monday is the deadline for people to apply for an exemption from the state plan. Schmick has filed a bill that would allow Washingtonians to opt-in to the program, instead of requiring them to opt-out by proving they have a private long-term care insurance policy.

 

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