Washington voters will decide the fate of the state’s path-breaking public long-term care insurance program in a referendum this Fall. If adopted, Initiative 2124 would make participation in the Washington Cares program voluntary, effectively killing it. The effort, largely bankrolled by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood and backed by prominent state Republicans, is the latest attempt by conservatives to dismantle the program.
Last summer, Washington began collecting a 0.58 percent payroll tax to fund the program. It will provide a maximum benefit of $36,500, adjusted for inflation, starting in 2026. The tax is equal to roughly $400 annually for an average income worker in the state. Forbes.com estimates the average salary there is about $72,000.
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