As Washington’s – and the nation’s – population ages, more and more families are facing the challenges of caring for an elderly family member. The majority of adults have no long-term care insurance, and such care is not covered under Medicare. While family members often provide care in order to enable a loved one to remain at home, many of these family caregivers also hold down jobs outside the home and many are also raising children. The burden – financially, emotionally, physically – is real.
That’s why last session, Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) teamed up with Rep. Norm Johnson (R-Yakima) on a bill to create a long-term care benefit for seniors in Washington state. It’s an issue that will likely be revisited in the coming legislative session.
The New York Times recently published a piece highlighting the Jinkins/Johnson legislation. From the article:
Washington has been a leader in long-term care for many years. In 2017, it was ranked first in the quality and execution of long-term care in a study commissioned by AARP and several partner organizations. Representative Laurie Jinkins, a Democrat, and Representative Norm Johnson, a Republican, introduced a bill last winter called the Long-Term Care Trust Act, which would provide universal long-term care in the state. Everyone would contribute through a payroll deduction, and everyone would be guaranteed a long-term benefit if needed.
Click here to read the full article.