Washington Long Term Care Insurance
Washington long-term care insurance: WA Cares Fund, the state's Long-Term Care Partnership program, Apple Health Medicaid, and 2025 federal tax limits.
Washington became the first state in the country to enact a public long-term care benefit. The WA Cares Fund, funded since July 2023 by a 0.58% payroll premium on covered wages, provides a lifetime long-term care benefit capped at roughly $36,500 (adjusted over time) once a worker has vested, per the WA Cares Fund. That benefit is real — and it is not built to absorb a private-room nursing-facility year, which in most Washington markets is priced well above what Medicaid reimburses facilities.
Washington also has one of the faster-growing 65-and-older populations on the West Coast, and state demographers project the senior share of the population to keep rising through the 2030s. For most households, that means the gap between what WA Cares covers and what a serious claim actually costs will be paid out of pocket — or by a private LTC policy.
What Long-Term Care Costs in Washington
Data as of April 2026.
Washington does not publish a single consumer-facing private-pay price list for long-term care. A few general frames help size a policy:
- Private-pay nursing-facility rates are priced above what Medicaid reimburses facilities, and private rooms run higher than semi-private rooms.
- Home health aide and homemaker care generally cost less per month than a facility, but Medicare does not pay for either beyond short post-hospital windows.
- Nationally, roughly 7 in 10 people turning 65 today will need some form of long-term services and supports at some point — a national figure, not Washington-specific.
Because every care plan is personal — hours of aide time, memory-care needs, facility level — we use these frames to design a policy, not to quote one.
Paying for Long-Term Care in Washington
Most Washingtonians stack four sources: personal savings, unpaid family caregiving, long-term care insurance (traditional or hybrid), and — for those who qualify financially — Medicaid long-term services and supports through Apple Health, administered by the Health Care Authority and DSHS.
For a single applicant, Medicaid LTSS eligibility generally requires countable assets at or below $2,000, plus income within program limits and the standard federal five-year look-back on asset transfers. Washington applies the federal spousal-impoverishment protections for a community spouse, and the home is generally non-countable while a spouse or dependent lives there, subject to federal home-equity limits.
Partnership program. Washington operates an active federally-certified Long-Term Care Partnership program, authorized in state law at RCW 48.85. A Partnership-qualified policy earns a dollar-for-dollar Medicaid asset disregard — every dollar the policy pays in benefits is a dollar of personal assets you are allowed to keep while still qualifying for Medicaid LTSS later. To qualify, policies must be tax-qualified and, for applicants under age 76, carry inflation protection meeting state-specified minimums. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner publishes current consumer guidance at insurance.wa.gov/long-term-care-insurance.
WA Cares interaction. Working residents who purchased qualifying private long-term care insurance before the state's 2022 opt-out deadline may hold an active exemption from the WA Cares payroll premium. Residents without that exemption are contributing to WA Cares already; private coverage is the layer that sits on top of that floor.
Long-Term Care Insurance Options for Washington Residents
The Washington LTC market has narrowed significantly over the past decade. Several household-name carriers — including Genworth, John Hancock, MetLife, Prudential, Transamerica, and MassMutual — have stopped issuing new traditional individual long-term care policies in Washington and most other states. What remains is a smaller set of standalone traditional policies and a growing shelf of hybrid life-insurance and annuity products with LTC riders.
Rather than guess which carriers are actively filing in Washington today, confirm currently authorized carriers and Partnership-qualified product filings with the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
What Drives Your Washington LTC Premium
The daily or monthly benefit amount you choose is usually the single biggest lever on your premium — and in Washington, the benefit needs to be sized against private-pay rates, not the WA Cares lifetime cap. Beyond that:
- Age at application — younger applicants lock in materially lower premiums.
- Health rating from underwriting.
- Daily or monthly benefit amount and total benefit pool.
- Inflation protection design (and required to stay Partnership-qualified under age 76).
- Marital or partner discount when both applicants qualify.
- Traditional standalone versus hybrid (life- or annuity-based) structure.
Use the quote form on this page to see Washington-specific numbers from multiple carriers side by side.
Tax Benefits for Washington Residents
State tax treatment. Washington has no state personal income tax, so no state-level deduction or credit for long-term care insurance premiums applies.
Federal treatment. The IRS publishes annual age-banded limits on the amount of qualified LTC insurance premium that counts as a medical expense. For tax year 2025, per IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40, Section 3.24:
| Age at End of Tax Year | 2025 Eligible Premium Limit |
|---|---|
| 40 or under | $480 |
| 41 through 50 | $900 |
| 51 through 60 | $1,800 |
| 61 through 70 | $4,810 |
| 71 and older | $6,020 |
Plan Now While Options Are Open
Because Washington runs an active Partnership program on top of the WA Cares floor, a right-sized Partnership-qualified policy can pay back twice — once as coverage, and again as Medicaid asset protection if a claim ever outlasts the policy. Use the quote form above to compare Washington-authorized carriers and benefit designs in one place.
Disclaimer
This page is educational and general in nature, not a solicitation or offer of a specific insurance product, and not tax or legal advice. Long-term care insurance availability, pricing, and underwriting vary by carrier, state, and applicant. For personalized guidance, contact a licensed specialist. For current authorized carriers in Washington, consult the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
Washington Long Term Care Insurance FAQs
How much does long term care insurance cost in Washington?
Premiums in Washington depend on age at application, health, benefit amount, and inflation protection. Most Washington residents pay between $1,500 and $4,500 per year for a comprehensive policy, and the cost is locked in when you apply. Applying earlier and in better health typically results in the lowest Washington LTC insurance rates.
Does Washington have a Long Term Care Partnership program?
Most states including Washington participate in the federal/state Long Term Care Partnership program. A Partnership-qualified policy in Washington lets you protect assets equal to the benefits your policy pays out if you ever need to apply for Medicaid, on top of the usual Medicaid asset limits. Ask your specialist whether a given carrier's policy is Partnership-certified in Washington.
What does long term care insurance cover in Washington?
A Washington long term care policy typically reimburses the cost of care you receive when you cannot perform at least two activities of daily living, or when you have a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's. Covered care settings generally include home health care, adult daycare, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing facilities located in Washington or anywhere in the U.S.
When should I buy long term care insurance in Washington?
Most Washington residents who buy LTC insurance do so in their mid-50s to mid-60s, before rates rise sharply and before health conditions make coverage harder to qualify for. Buying earlier locks in lower premiums for life, while waiting risks higher costs or being declined outright.
Is long term care insurance tax deductible in Washington?
Yes — premiums for qualified long term care insurance policies are deductible as medical expenses on your federal return, up to IRS age-based limits that are indexed annually. Washington may offer additional state tax credits or deductions for LTC premiums; your LTC Tree specialist can confirm the current rules that apply to residents of Washington.
Which carriers offer long term care insurance in Washington?
LTC Tree is an independent broker and shops every major carrier licensed in Washington, including Mutual of Omaha, Nationwide, Securian, National Guardian Life, OneAmerica, Thrivent, Lincoln Financial, and others. Each Washington applicant's situation is different — we run rates across carriers and present the best fit for your age, health, and budget.