the truth ABOUT I-2124
The TrUTH:
I-2124 WILL TAKE AWAY LONG-TERM CARE BENEFITS
i-2124 takes coverage from 85% of working washingtonians
It’s a scary thought that at some point 70% of us will need some form of long term care. But if I-2124 passes, it will take away the only guaranteed, affordable long-term care insurance benefit for 85% of working Washingtonians.
Like Social Security and Medicare, Washington’s long-term care benefit is set up to allow seniors, and disabled or severely ill adults, to live with dignity and stability.
i-2124 harms people with pre-existing conditions
Under I-2124, Washingtonians with pre-existing conditions like cancer or diabetes (about half of us) will lose access to the only long term care benefit available to them—because private insurance companies won’t cover them.
With Washington’s long term care plan, once you retire, you no longer have to pay in to receive your benefits. But if I-2124 passes, a 65-year-old retired couple would, on average, need to pay $5,000 to $7,000 a year to keep access to their long term care benefit with a private insurance company.
“Under i-2124, Sam would have to leave work if I needed care. We could lose our home.”
— Dani, Asotin, WA
fRequently Asked Questions
WHY DO WE NEED WASHINGTON’S LONG-TERM CARE BENEFIT?
Washington’s long-term care benefit is a safety net, like Social Security or Medicare, set up to allow seniors, and disabled or severely ill adults, to live with dignity and stability.
Lawmakers have steadily strengthened Washington’s long term care benefit—first making near retirees eligible, even if they work part-time. Thanks to new changes, Washingtonians who have paid into the program can keep their benefits even if they move out of state for work, family, or retirement.
The need for long-term care is a scary event we all hope to avoid, but the fact is 70% of us will need help with daily living activities as a result of a serious injury, illness, disease or other challenge that can happen at any age. The vast majority of us do not have a way to pay for support like home care, home modifications, medical equipment, or residential care facilities.
Most people don’t realize their long-term care expenses are not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare, and for most people, income from Social Security isn't enough to cover this expense.
WASHINGTON’S LONG-TERM CARE BENEFIT
Right now, Washingtonians have an affordable, guaranteed benefit we can tap to help cover the costs of long-term care, it’s called the WA Cares Fund. Washington’s long-term care benefits can pay for:
Home care aide so you can stay in your own home
Family member’s time caring for you
Wheelchairs, hospital beds, lifts, and other equipment
Ramps, grab bars, and other home modifications
Residential care
The WA Cares Fund has been extensively studied for financial stability, and an independent actuarial analysis says the program is currently on solid ground. All of that will change if I-2124 passes.
Why VOTE NO ON I-2124?
While political interests claim this is about giving people a choice, the truth is that I-2124 will:
Harm people with pre-existing conditions, like cancer or diabetes, by taking away the only long-term care benefit available to them - because private insurance companies won’t cover them
Take $8.1 billion from our long-term care benefits program, forcing premium hikes, and quickly bankrupting the program
Take away benefits from more than 85% of working Washingtonians, nearly all of us
Leave us at the mercy of for-profit insurance companies who jack up premiums and deny benefits by 50%, 100%, or even 300% without warning
Make a 65-year-old retired couple pay, on average, $5,000 to $7,000 a year to keep access to their long term care benefit with a private insurance company
Force us to pay out of pocket for homecare, wheelchairs, ramps, and other long-term care expenses
Make us drain our savings, or sign over our homes, to qualify for Medicaid
WHO IS BEHIND I-2124?
Like with political efforts to privatize Social Security and Medicare, we need to say “no” to efforts to privatize long-term care. I-2124 will allow big long term care insurance companies to get even richer off of aging, sick or injured Washingtonians.
I-2124 is backed primarily by a hedge fund millionaire who recently moved to Redmond from California, who is pushing this initiative for political reasons. (Seattle Times, Jan 28, 2024)
HOW WILL I-2124 BANKRUPT WASHINGTON’S LONG-TERM CARE BENEFIT?
I-2124 will substantially decrease enrollment in the long-term care benefits fund, taking away $8.1 billion in benefits over just a few years. Administrators will be forced to increase premiums to cover remaining participants, driving more people to leave, and quickly leading to bankruptcy. This phenomenon is called adverse selection. (Forbes, Feb 21, 2024)
AM I COVERED BY WASHINGTON’S LONG-TERM CARE BENEFIT?
If you’re currently working in Washington, you are likely one of 3.5 million workers already building your long-term care benefits through your employer.
Part-time workers, working as few as 10 hours per week, are covered.
Near-retirees and retirees working part-time jobs are now eligible for prorated benefits.
People who move out of state for work or retirement can now take their benefits with them.
Self-employed and gig workers can enroll through Washington’s Employment Security Department to build their benefits
Washington’s long-term care benefit provides workers with a big return on investment. Benefits start at $36,500 in 2026, growing to as much as $60,000 in 20 years, indexed to inflation. Learn more.
Lawmakers have steadily strengthened Washington’s long term care benefit—first making near retirees eligible, even if they work part-time. Thanks to new changes, Washingtonians who have paid into the program can keep their benefits even if they move out of state for work, family, or retirement. Voting No on I-2124 will make sure we stop this rollback of long term care benefits for millions of Washingtonians.