Long-Term Care Insurance Washington State Options
Find a plan that’s right for you with our highly rated companies, multiple plan options, and expert long-term care advisors.
- Washington Long-Term Care Partnership Program
- Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance
- Hybrid Life Insurance with LTC
- Long-Term Care Annuities
Highly Rated Companies
Washington State long-term care insurance can play a significant role in your family’s future well-being. By planning ahead you can provide security and peace of mind for years to come by knowing you can:
✔ Secure quality, affordable care.
✔ Safeguard your assets for your spouse and other heirs.
✔ Relieve family members and friends from having to provide care.
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Washington State Long-Term Care Tax
Washington was the first state in the nation to develop a long-term care payroll tax to help fund a long-term care program. Known as the Washington Cares Fund, the program is funded with a 0.58 percent payroll tax on all employee wages that began July 1, 2023.
Unlike other state insurance programs, there is no cap on wages. All wages and other compensation, including stock-based compensation, bonuses, paid time off, and severance pay, are subject to the tax. Learn More >
Did You Know?
Almost 70% of people turning age 65 today will need some type of long-term care in the future. The average length of time people need care is 3 years.1
One-third of people may never need long-term care, but 20% will need it for longer than 5 years. On average women need 3.7 years of care while men need 2.2 years.2
In 2024, the average cost for 3 years of long-term care in Washington State is $396,738 ($132,246/year). That cost is projected to be $789,423 ($263,141/year) in 2044.3
Understand Long-Term Care Costs
Washington State Long-Term Care Costs – 2024 (annual) | |||
| Region | Nursing Home (private room) | Assisted Living (private room) | Home Care (44 hours/week) |
| Washington State Average | $132,246 | $82,811 | $83,131 |
| Bellingham | $126,047 | $61,477 | $56,912 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale | $149,748 | $93,529 | $84,202 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $133,658 | $90,749 | $69,109 |
| Longview | $130,005 | $76,092 | $80,162 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | $137,813 | $87,534 | $90,554 |
| Olympia-Tumwater | $135,691 | $66,601 | $83,273 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $140,785 | $90,412 | $88,212 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $135,340 | $59,957 | $77,150 |
| Vancouver Area | $142,441 | $76,139 | $79,101 |
| Walla Walla | $119,573 | $72,565 | $80,053 |
| Wenatchee | $139,111 | $62,776 | $77,193 |
| Yakima | $146,916 | $68,482 | $74,225 |
Source: Nationwide Financial 2024 cost of care survey conducted by HVS, site accessed 4/22/2024
Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?
No, Medicare does not cover long-term care (custodial care). This type of care makes up more than 90% of all long-term care services. Examples of custodial care is when you need help with walking, bathing, eating, dressing or using the toilet. This is what people need most when they have a physical impairment from a stroke. Or, due to cognitive impairment from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Medicare covers long-term care costs. It doesn’t.
Further, about 80% of care at home is provided by unpaid caregivers. With more than half of this care including intensive caregiving assistance with personal care such as bathing or feeding.4 And it’s not only seniors that need long-term care. Over 35 percent of people currently receiving care are between the ages of 18 and 64.5
When To Buy Long-Term Care Insurance
Like most advisors, we recommend buying long-term care insurance in your fifties or early sixties for the following reasons:
- The younger you are when you buy a policy, the lower the annual premiums.
- Even though you pay premiums a longer period of time, you’ll typically pay less overall than someone buying at an older age.
- By the time you reach your mid sixties, you’re more likely to have a medical condition that makes you ineligible for a preferred-health discount, or makes it tough to get coverage at all.
So it almost never pays to wait. And, while you’re waiting, you’re uninsured. If an accident or illness happens causing you to need long-term care, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
Average Cost of LTC Insurance in Washington State?
Your Washington State long-term care insurance rates will depend on your age, health history, plan design and type of coverage selected. The following choices let you choose how much protection is right for your situation:
- Benefit Period
- Daily Benefit
- Elimination Period (a deductible in days)
- Inflation Protection (if chosen)
Ready to get pricing and suggestions?
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Washington State LTC Insurance Options
These are the types of long-term care insurance plans available in Washington State.
Traditional LTC Insurance—Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership
- The most comprehensive long-term care protection for your dollar
- About half of all long-term care policies purchased
- The broadest set of options
- Recurring premiums
- Learn more about Traditional LTC >
Hybrid Life Insurance with Long-Term Care
- A permanent life insurance policy that can be used during your lifetime if you need long-term care
- If care is not needed, your asset passes to your estate as a tax-free death benefit
- Insurance policy may build cash value and have a return of premium option
- Premiums will NOT increase and 1035 exchanges possible
- Can be funded with qualified dollars (IRA, 401k, etc.)
- Learn more about Hybrid Life with LTC >
Hybrid Annuity with Long-Term Care
- A deferred annuity contract with a fixed interest rate and possible indexing for asset growth plus long-term care benefits
- If not exhausted paying for your long-term care needs, the annuity will transfer to your estate
- Long-term care benefits are typically double or triple the value of the annuity
- Premiums will NOT increase and 1035 exchanges possible
- Can be funded with qualified dollars (IRA, 401k, etc.)
- Learn more about Hybrid Annuities with LTC >
Short-Term Care Insurance
- Coverage for a year or less with the option of home health care only, facility only, or both combined
- Expect lower premiums than long-term care insurance and some policies are available to age 89
- Simplified underwriting can be a good fit if you’ve been declined for LTC insurance
- Option for no deductible, meaning benefits would be paid as soon as you qualify
- Learn more about Short-Term Care Insurance >
Understand Partnership LTC Plans
Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership
Washington Long-Term Care Partnership Program policies combine private long-term care insurance with Medicaid asset protection. Only LTC Partnership policies provide this type of asset protection when you need nursing home, assisted living or home care.
This valuable asset protection feature of the Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership applies when your long-term care needs last longer than the benefits of your LTC Partnership policy. For instance, for every dollar your Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership policy pays in benefits, a dollar of your assets are protected from the long-term care Medicaid asset limit. The protected assets are also exempt from Estate Recovery in the same amount as the benefits paid by your Washington State LTC Partnership plan.
Washington State Long-Term Care Partnership insurance costs are like regular policies. But some types of LTC plans and not included in the Washington LTC Partnership. This includes hybrid long-term care insurance and short-term care plans. For this reason, we compare WA LTC Partnership plans to all other options. This can uncover alternatives better suited to your situation.
Partnership Reciprocity
Reciprocity applies when you buy a Long-Term Care Partnership policy in another State and then later move to Washington State. Because Washington has reciprocity, you will not lose the special Partnership policy asset protection benefit by moving to Washington. The State of Washington would also recognize accumulated asset protection for Medicaid qualification, if you were already receiving long-term care benefits from your Long-Term Care Partnership policy before relocating. Without a reciprocity agreement, your long-term care policy is portable, but the asset protection features are not.
Long-Term Care Insurance Companies in Washington State
There are several options of long-term care insurance companies in Washington State. Our professional advisors compare multiple highly rated insurance companies to find you the right plan at the lowest cost.
- Bankers Life & Casualty
- Brighthouse Financial
- Global Atlantic
- LifeSecure
- Lincoln Financial (MoneyGuard)
- Mutual of Omaha
- National Guardian Life (NGL)
- Nationwide Life Insurance Company
- New York Life
- Northwestern Mutual
- OneAmerica
- Securian Financial
- State Farm
- Thrivent Financial
Compare Long-Term Care Insurance Options
Our Washington LTC specialists offer objective guidance on a wide range of long-term care insurance products and strategies. Expect personalized service on topics such as:
✔ Choosing from a variety of long-term care insurance products
✔ Suggestions for the carrier best suited to your situation and goals
✔ Assistance with health qualifying for coverage
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About the Author: Mike Berger
Reviewed by: Craig Matesky