Olympia City Council opposes Initiative 2124, says it threatens long-term care program 

On Tuesday, October 15, the Olympia City Council passed a resolution opposing Washington State's Initiative 2124, which would make the state's long-term care insurance program voluntary.  

Debbi Sullivan, Olympia's assistant city manager, provided an overview of Initiative 2124 and the Washington Cares long-term insurance program for the city council.  

The Washington Cares program provides people who meet its requirement up to $36,500, adjusted for inflation, to cover certain long-term care services, such as nursing care facilities. The program is funded through mandatory contributions from employees.  

Washington requires most full-time, part-time, and temporary employees to contribute 0.58% of their wages.  

Regarding Initiative 2124, Sullivan explained that it would change how participation in the long-term insurance program works. Under the initiative, employees and self-employed individuals participating would be allowed to opt-out at any time.  

Those who opt out would no longer be required to pay the premiums but would not be eligible for the $36,500 benefit.  

If approved by voters, Sullivan said Initiative 2124 would repeal the provision that created a voluntary exemption for employees who purchased long-term care insurance before November 2021.  

Two Olympia residents provided testimony opposing Initiative 2124. 

Lisa Ornstein, speaking on behalf of community member Judith Bendersky, opposed the initiative during the public hearing.  

Bendersky, a certified gerontologist, Medicare advisor, and aging and disabilities resource specialist, emphasized the importance of the Washington Cares long-term care program.  

"For 25 years, I've met with families and individuals who have discovered that Medicare is not going to cover costs for their long-term care needs," Bendersky stated. "Many of them have had to spend down all the money they worked hard all their lives to qualify for the state's Medicaid program, known as Apple Health in Washington; they often have to spend down their assets and become nearly destitute." 

Bendersky explained that long-term care insurance is unaffordable and inaccessible to anyone who has received a traumatic medical diagnosis.  

Bendersky argued that "Washington Cares, which Initiative 2124 seeks to sabotage, is a 'brilliant remedy' for this problem." 

Jim Lazar also testified against Initiative 2124. He warned that the initiative would undermine the sustainability of the Washington Care long-term care program. "Voters are offered a false economic choice by the initiative – a chance to save a few pennies now at a likely greater cost later. 

Like social security, Lazar said people are contributing a small portion of their wages to the Washington Cares program to help provide long-term care support services and ensure additional stability for society and themselves when they need care later in life.  

"By making our state's long-term care program opt-in would cause a death spiral that could ultimately bankrupt and kill the program." Lazar argued this would leave "millions of Washingtonians" without long-term care coverage.