WA Cares Covers Long-Term Care Where Medicare Won’t
A third of Americans feel it’s unlikely they will ever need care with basic tasks, but federal data shows at least 70% of us will require long term care at some point in our lives. When that happens, WA Cares will cover us with medical equipment and home care.
Does Medicare Cover Long Term Care?
Most of us assume if we ever needed help because of an injury, illness, disease or age-related limitation, that our health insurance or Medicare will cover our care. They won’t. Things like getting around, dressing, bathing, or managing meals or medication aren’t covered by Medicare.
In fact, neither Medicare nor Medicare supplemental insurance covers help with daily activities of living.
Whether it’s at home, or in a facility like a rehab, assisted living, or nursing home – the cost of long term care support is not covered by Medicare or regular health insurance.
Medicare also does not cover the costs of modifications to your home (like installing a walk-in shower, grab bars, or ramps), and has strict limits on coverage for equipment like a wheelchair or adjustable hospital bed.
According to public opinion research, more than half of people surveyed were not aware that Medicare doesn’t cover long term care. WA Cares does.
Workers in Washington Now Have a Way to Pay for Home Care
Now, thanks to WA Cares, working Washingtonians have a way to access long term care support.
WA Cares is the first of its kind: a publicly available, long term care benefit for workers in Washington state.
WA Cares funds (starting at $36,500 in 2026 and growing with inflation) are flexible and can be used to pay a home care aide, or make modifications to your home and buy medical equipment. You can even pay a family member to be your caregiver.
More states are working on similar programs, creating a life-changing pathway for people to get the care we want in our own homes. Learn more about WA cares here.
What Are Your Options For Covering The Cost Of Long Term Care?
Here are Washingtonian’s options for covering the cost of long-term care:
- Pay out of pocket from your own savings or income
- Buy a private long term care insurance policy (excludes people with pre-existing conditions, charges women more than men, requires you pay rising premiums even after your retire, and costs an average of $2,700 a year)
- Drain your assets and savings to less than $2,000 to become eligible for Medicaid
- Tap your WA Cares benefit ($36,500 and grows with inflation) and access the long-term care you need. Learn more about WA Cares here.
Learn more about long-term care costs here.
80% of households with older adults are in such a financially precarious position they “would be unable to absorb a financial shock such as long-term services and supports.”
The National Council on Aging.
So, “Does Medicare Cover Long Term Care?” No.
Neither does your health insurance. But WA Cares does.
Workers building their WA Cares benefit will have long-term care coverage when they need it.