Potential Pause to WA Cares Fund Tax

December 17th, 2021 Update

Governor Inslee (along Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins) released a statement this morning on delaying the Washington Cares Fund premium assessment.

Here’s what we know right now:

• Employers will not need to begin premium collections in January 2022
• Employers will not be subject to penalties and interest for not withholding fees from employees' wages during this transition
• All other components of the bill remain unchanged
• Legislators have identified some areas of the bill that need adjustments
• A delay in premium assessments will enable legislators the opportunity to make refinements to the bill
• The WA state legislature is back in session in January 2022 and will be presented with a recommendations report from the LTSS Commission
• The November 1^st “opt-out” deadline to purchase Private LTC Insurance has not changed  
• Link to Governor Inslee’s statement -- https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-billig-jinkins-statement-delaying-wa-cares-fund-premium-assessment

We’re encouraging employees to maintain their Private LTC Insurance while we await any changes to this law. 

As we learn more about developments to this program, we will share updates with you, however it’s unlikely that we will have any information until the legislature meets in January.