Washington State Launches Long-Term Care Payroll Surcharge to Fund Resident Support

By Paula Span · KFF Health News · 2026-07-10

A first-of-its-kind public insurance program in Washington is now collecting payroll taxes to address the high costs of aging. KFF Health News reports that the initiative, known as WA Cares, charges workers a small percentage of their wages to provide a lifetime benefit for servi

A first-of-its-kind public insurance program in Washington is now collecting payroll taxes to address the high costs of aging. KFF Health News reports that the initiative, known as WA Cares, charges workers a small percentage of their wages to provide a lifetime benefit for servi