A new report has great news for more than 81,000 workers in the Renton, Issaquah, Maple Valley, and North Bend areas who will soon be building up WA Cares benefits. WA Cares will enable us to stay in our own homes with paid home care when we have Dementia, Cancer, and other illnesses or injuries.

The new analysis comes from We Care For Cares, a coalition of consumer and patient advocates including AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Lupus Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Physicians for Social Responsibility.

In our area, WA Cares will directly benefit an estimated 81,240 workers, including:

• 65,080 younger workers (20-54)
• 16,160 older workers (55-64)
• 22,450 Black, Indigenous and workers of color
• 18,420 part-time workers
• 8,820 gig workers

Jay Taylor, of North Bend, shares: “My mother had MS. If she’d had that $36,500 in WA Cares benefits she could have spent the last year of her life in her own home where she wanted to be, with her favorite view out the window, and her friends nearby. I’m glad I’ll have WA Cares to tap into to pay for a wheelchair ramp and someone to help with meals when I need it so I can age in place.”

WA Cares covers 57,500 under age 65 in our area who likely have pre-existing conditions

Private long term care insurance companies frequently deny coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer.

Even if we can afford and qualify for a private long term care insurance policy ($2,000-$7,000/year), we must continue paying premiums even after retirement.

With WA Cares, we pay in just while we’re working, and the benefits are always there for us

WA Cares will provide $36,500 (grows with inflation) to help pay someone when we need help with tasks like dressing, bathing, making meals and getting around as a result of an injury, illness, disease or the normal challenges that can come with aging.

There are nearly 20,000 unpaid caregivers in our area

Frequently, women, and Black, Indigenous and people of color become unpaid family caregivers – those less likely to have enough savings to pay for care. When they leave their job to care for others, that drains household income and worsens the labor shortage.

WA Cares is good for jobs and our economy

A dollar in WA Cares spending on home repair, home care, or medical supplier generates another $1.50 in economic benefits and supports jobs in our communities.

Thanks to the hard work and support of our state representatives Bill Ramos and Lisa Callan, WA Cares will give us the choice of staying in our homes when we need care.

We Cares for WA Cares is a coalition of consumer advocates including AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, Lupus Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Physicians for Social Responsibility.