Yes, You WILL Have To Have Long-Term Care Ins. In Washington

It's in the news, it's headed your way in Washington State, so what exactly is long-term care, because one way or the other, you are going to be paying for it.  According to LongTermCare.gov, long term care is “a range of services and supports you may need to meet your personal care needs.”  Most long-term care is not medical care, but rather assistance with the basic personal tasks of everyday life.

Examples of long term care include nursing home care, assisted living facilities and home care. Long term care is often defined by assistance with the “activities of daily living”, which can be anything from dressing and eating, to moving around and going to the bathroom.

The American Association for Long Term Care Insurance predicts 68% of people who are 65 or older will require long term care.

Ok all well and good, but you don't want it.  Too bad.  Washington is the first state in the nation to mandate that you will.  Either the state will collect the premium from your check or you can pay for private care, but if you live in Washington, you will have to have long-term insurance.

(Hey, it's for your own good and we know better about what's good for you than you do --said every liberal legislator everywhere)

The Washington Cares Fund is a new program that will tax everyone in the state that doesn't have a private policy and who didn't take the necessary steps to opt out of the program by November of this year.

Beginning January 2022, Washington workers will pay up to $0.58 per $100 of earnings and if you are self-employed, you can opt-in to the Trust.  Then beginning January 2025, each person who is eligible to receive the benefit can access services and supports costing up to a lifetime maximum of $36,000.