July 2023 Monthly Newsletter
Featured Care Story:
Miguel and his wife Irma live in Skagit County and have spent the past 21 years together. Three years ago, Irma broke one ankle and dislocated the other. Her ability to accomplish daily tasks has been affected ever since the injuries, and Miguel has stopped working outside the home so he can be her full-time caregiver. Watch Miguel’s story in English or Spanish.
Webinars:
The next WA Cares Basics: What Workers Need to Know webinar will take place on Monday, July 31 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Join us to learn more about what long term care includes, how caregiving responsibilities impact families and the workplace, who contributes to the fund, how exemptions work, how workers will meet contribution requirements (including a pathway for near-retirees) and more. ASL interpretation and live captions will be available. Register now.
Fund Fact: A 2022 actuarial study shows WA Cares is on solid financial ground
To be considered solvent, WA Cares must have enough expected future revenue (based on the premium rate set in law and investment earnings on those premiums) to pay all expected future program benefits and expenses. According to a 2022 actuarial study, the WA Cares Fund is projected to be fully solvent through 2098 (the full period evaluated in the study) under most evaluated scenarios. Learn more about program solvency.
Monthly FAQ: What will the benefit cover?
While WA Cares benefits can be used to pay for care in a residential setting like a nursing home, they can also cover services and supports to help you stay at home – things like training and paying a family caregiver, paying a professional in-home caregiver, home safety modifications, home-delivered meals, transportation and assistive technology like medication reminder devices.
Watch our new FAQ video or visit our website to learn more about how far the benefit will go.
WA Cares in the news: WA Cares Fund Director Ben Veghte recently joined KUOW’s Soundside for an in-depth conversation on the program covering a wide range of topics, including the reasons behind the program’s design, legislative changes, benefit portability and more.
LTSS Trust Commission update:
The LTSS Trust Commission had its second meeting in 2023 on July 25. The meeting included recognition of the program launch and updates on premium collection and exemptions, program communications and outreach, progress made by the Benefit Eligibility Workgroup and Portability Cost Offsets Workgroup and a final report out on minimum provider qualifications. You can watch the meeting on TVW and tune in for the next Commission meeting on September 19 from 1– 4p.m.